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The Light Princess
by George MacDonald
1。 What！ No Children？
Once upon a time； so long ago that I have quite forgotten the date；
there lived a king and queen who had no children。
And the king said to himself； 〃All the queens of my acquaintance
have children； some three； some seven； and some as many as twelve；
and my queen has not one。 I feel ill…used。〃 So he made up his mind
to be cross with his wife about it。 But she bore it all like a good
patient queen as she was。 Then the king grew very cross indeed。 But
the queen pretended to take it all as a joke； and a very good one
too。
〃Why don't you have any daughters； at least？〃 said he。 〃I don't say
sons； that might be too much to expect。〃
〃I am sure； dear king； I am very sorry；〃 said the queen。
〃So you ought to be；〃 retorted the king； 〃you are not going to make
a virtue of that； surely。〃
But he was not an ill…tempered king； and in any matter of less
moment would have let the queen have her own way with all his
heart。 This； however； was an affair of state。
The queen smiled。
〃You must have patience with a lady； you know； dear king；〃 said
she。
She was； indeed； a very nice queen； and heartily sorry that she
could not oblige the king immediately。
2。 Won't I； Just？
The king tried to have patience； but he succeeded very badly。 It
was more than he deserved； therefore； when； at last； the queen gave
him a daughteras lovely a little princess as ever cried。
The day drew near when the infant must be christened。 The king
wrote all the invitations with his own hand。 Of course somebody was
forgotten。
Now it does not generally matter if somebody is forgotten； only you
must mind who。 Unfortunately； the king forgot without intending to
forget； and so the chance fell upon the Princess Makemnoit； which
was awkward。 For the princess was the king's own sister； and he
ought not to have forgotten her。 But she had made herself so
disagreeable to the old king； their father； that he had forgotten
her in making his will； and so it was no wonder that her brother
forgot her in writing his invitations。 But poor relations don't do
anything to keep you in mind of them。 Why don't they？ The king
could not see into the garret she lived in； could he？
She was a sour； spiteful creature。 The wrinkles of contempt crossed
the wrinkles of peevishness； and made her face as full of wrinkles
as a pat of butter。 If ever a king could be justified in forgetting
anybody； this king was justified in forgetting his sister； even at
a christening。 She looked very odd； too。 Her forehead was as large
as all the rest of her face； and projected over it like a
precipice。 When she was angry； her little eyes flashed blue。 When
she hated anybody； they shone yellow and green。 What they looked
like when she loved anybody； I do not know； for I never heard of
her loving anybody but herself； and I do not think she could have
managed that if she had not somehow got used to herself。 But what
made it highly imprudent in the king to forget her was that she was
awfully clever。 In fact； she was a witch； and when she bewitched
anybody； he very soon had enough of it； for she beat all the wicked
fairies in wickedness； and all the clever ones in cleverness。 She
despised all the modes we read of in history； in which offended
fairies and witches have taken their revenges； and therefore； after
waiting and waiting in vain for an invitation； she made up her mind
at last to go without one； and make the whole family miserable；
like a princess as she was。
So she put on her best gown； went to the palace； was kindly
received by the happy monarch； who forgot that he had forgotten
her； and took her place in the procession to the royal chapel。 When
they were all gathered about the font； she contrived to get next to
it； and throw something into the water； after which she maintained
a very respectful demeanour till the water was applied to the
child's face。 But at that moment she turned round in her place
three times； and muttered the following words； loud enough for
those beside her to hear：
〃Light of spirit； by my charms；
Light of body； every part；
Never weary human arms
Only crush thy parents' heart！〃
They all thought she had lost her wits； and was repeating some
foolish nursery rhyme； but a shudder went through the whole of them
notwithstanding。 The baby； on the contrary； began to laugh and
crow； while the nurse gave a start and a smothered cry； for she
thought she was struck with paralysis： she could not feel the baby
in her arms。 But she clasped it tight and said nothing。 The
mischief was done。
3。 She Can't Be Ours。
Her atrocious aunt had deprived the child of all her gravity。 If
you ask me how this was effected； I answer； 〃In the easiest way in
the world。 She had only to destroy gravitation。〃 For the princess
was a philosopher； and knew all the ins and outs of the laws of
gravitation as well as the ins and outs of her boot…lace。 And being
a witch as well； she could abrogate those laws in a moment； or at
least so clog their wheels and rust their bearings； that they would
not work at all。 But we have more to do with what followed than
with how it was done。
The first awkwardness that resulted from this unhappy privation
was； that the moment the nurse began to float the baby up and down；
she flew from her arms towards the ceiling。 Happily； the resistance
of the air brought her ascending career to a close within a foot of
it。 There she remained； horizontal as when she left her nurse's
arms； kicking and laughing amazingly。 The nurse in terror flew to
the bell； and begged the footman； who answered it； to bring up the
house…steps directly。 Trembling in every limb； she climbed upon the
steps； and had to stand upon the very top； and reach up； before she
could catch the floating tail of the baby's long clothes。
When the strange fact came to be known； there was a terrible
commotion in the palace。 The occasion of its discovery by the king
was naturally a repetition of the nurse's experience。 Astonished
that he felt no weight when the child was laid in his arms； he
began to wave her up and not down； for she slowly ascended to the
ceiling as before； and there remained floating in perfect comfort
and satisfaction； as was testified by her peals of tiny laughter。
The king stood staring up in speechless amazement； and trembled so
that his beard shook like grass in the wind。 At last； turning to
the queen； who was just as horror…struck as himself； he said；
gasping； staring； and stammering；
〃She can't be ours； queen！〃
Now the queen was much cleverer than the king； and had begun
already to suspect that 〃this effect defective came by cause。〃
〃I am sure she is ours；〃 answered she。 〃But we ought to have taken
better care of her at the christening。 People who were never
invited ought not to have been present。〃
〃Oh； ho！〃 said the king； tapping his forehead with his forefinger；
〃I have it all。 I've found her out。 Don't you see it； queen？
Princess Makemnoit has bewitched her。〃
〃That's just what I say；〃 answered the queen。
〃I beg your pardon； my love； I did not hear you。John！ bring the
steps I get on my throne with。〃
For he was a little king with a great throne； like many other
kings。
The throne…steps were brought； and set upon the dining…table； and
John got upon the top of them。 But he could not reach the little
princess； who lay like a baby…laughter…cloud in the air； exploding
continuously。
〃Take the tongs； John；〃 said his Majesty； and getting up on the
table； he handed them to him。
John could reach the baby now； and the little princess was handed
down by the tongs。
4。 Where Is She？
One fine summer day； a month after these her first adventures；
during which time she had been very carefully watched； the princess
was lying on the bed in the queen's own chamber； fast asleep。 One
of the windows was open； for it was noon； and the day was so sultry
that the little girl was wrapped in nothing less ethereal than
slumber itself。 The queen came into the room； and not observing
that the baby was on the bed； opened another window。 A frolicsome
fairy wind； which had been watching for a chance of mischief；
rushed in at the one window； and taking its way over the bed where
the child was lying； caught her up； and rolling and floating her
along like a piece of flue； or a dandelion seed； carried her with
it through the opposite window； and away。 The queen went
down…stairs； quite ignorant of the loss she had herself occasioned。
When the nurse returned； she supposed that her Majesty had carried
her off； and； dreading a scolding； delayed making inquiry about
her。 But hearing nothing； she grew uneasy； and went at length to
the q