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her。 But hearing nothing； she grew uneasy； and went at length to
the queen's boudoir； where she found her Majesty。
〃Please； your Majesty； shall I take the baby？〃 said she。
〃Where is she？〃 asked the queen。
〃Please forgive me。 I know it was wrong。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said the queen； looking grave。
〃Oh！ don't frighten me； your Majesty！〃 exclaimed the nurse；
clasping her hands。
The queen saw that something was amiss； and fell down in a faint。
The nurse rushed about the palace； screaming； 〃My baby！ my baby！〃
Every one ran to the queen's room。 But the queen could give no
orders。 They soon found out； however； that the princess was
missing； and in a moment the palace was like a beehive in a garden；
and in one minute more the queen was brought to herself by a great
shout and a clapping of hands。 They had found the princess fast
asleep under a rose…bush； to which the elvish little wind…puff had
carried her； finishing its mischief by shaking a shower of red
rose…leaves all over the little white sleeper。 Startled by the
noise the servants made； she woke； and； furious with glee；
scattered the rose… leaves in all directions； like a shower of
spray in the sunset。
She was watched more carefully after this； no doubt； yet it would
be endless to relate all the odd incidents resulting from this
peculiarity of the young princess。 But there never was a baby in a
house； not to say a palace； that kept the household in such
constant good humour； at least below… stairs。 If it was not easy
for her nurses to hold her； at least she made neither their arms
nor their hearts ache。 And she was so nice to play at ball with！
There was positively no danger of letting her fall。 They might
throw her down； or knock her down； or push her down； but couldn't
let her down。 It is true； they might let her fly into the fire or
the coal…hole； or through the window； but none of these accidents
had happened as yet。 If you heard peals of laughter resounding from
some unknown region； you might be sure enough of the cause。 Going
down into the kitchen； or the room； you would find Jane and Thomas；
and Robert and Susan； all and sum； playing at ball with the little
princess。 She was the ball herself； and did not enjoy it the less
for that。 Away she went； flying from one to another； screeching
with laughter。 And the servants loved the ball itself better even
than the game。 But they had to take some care how they threw her；
for if she received an upward direction； she would never come down
again without being fetched。
5。 What Is to Be Done？
But above…stairs it was different。 One day； for instance； after
breakfast； the king went into his counting…house； and counted out
his money。 The operation gave him no pleasure。
〃To think；〃 said he to himself； 〃that every one of these gold
sovereigns weighs a quarter of an ounce； and my real； live；
flesh…and…blood princess weighs nothing at all！〃
And he hated his gold sovereigns； as they lay with a broad smile of
self…satisfaction all over their yellow faces。
The queen was in the parlour； eating bread and honey。 But at the
second mouthful she burst out crying； and could not swallow it。
The king heard her sobbing。 Glad of anybody； but especially of his
queen； to quarrel with； he clashed his gold sovereigns into his
money…box； clapped his crown on his head； and rushed into the
parlour。
〃What is all this about？〃 exclaimed he。 〃What are you crying for；
queen？〃
〃I can't eat it；〃 said the queen； looking ruefully at the
honey…pot。
〃…No wonder！〃 retorted the king。 〃You've just eaten your breakfast
two turkey eggs； and three anchovies。〃
〃Oh； that's not it！〃 sobbed her Majesty。 〃It's my child； my child！〃
〃Well； what's the matter with your child？ She's neither up the
chimney nor down the draw…well。 Just hear her laughing。〃
Yet the king could not help a sigh； which he tried to turn into a
cough； saying
〃It is a good thing to be light…hearted； I am sure； whether she be
ours or not。〃
〃It is a bad thing to be light…headed；〃 answered the queen； looking
with prophetic soul far into the future。
〃'Tis a good thing to be light…handed；〃 said the king。
〃'Tis a bad thing to be light…fingered；〃 answered the queen。
〃'Tis a good thing to be light…footed；〃 said the
king。
〃'Tis a bad thing〃 began the queen； but the king interrupted her。
〃In fact；〃 said he； with the tone of one who concludes an argument
in which he has had only imaginary opponents； and in which；
therefore； he has come off triumphant〃in fact； it is a good thing
altogether to be light…bodied。〃
〃But it is a bad thing altogether to be light… minded；〃 retorted
the queen； who was beginning to lose her temper。
This last answer quite discomfited his Majesty； who turned on his
heel； and betook himself to his counting…house again。 But he was
not half…way towards it； when the voice of his queen overtook him。
〃And it's a bad thing to be light…haired；〃 screamed she； determined
to have more last words； now that her spirit was roused。
The queen's hair was black as night； and the king's had been； and
his daughter's was； golden as morning。 But it was not this
reflection on his hair that arrested him； it was the double use of
the word light。 For the king hated all witticisms； and punning
especially。 And besides； he could not tell whether the queen meant
light…haired or light…heired； for why might she not aspirate her
vowels when she was exasperated herself？
He turned upon his other heel； and rejoined her。 She looked angry
still； because she knew that she was guilty； or； what was much the
same； knew that HE thought so。
〃My dear queen；〃 said he； 〃duplicity of any sort is exceedingly
objectionable between married people of any rank； not to say kings
and queens； and the most objectionable form duplicity can assume is
that of punning。〃
〃There！〃 said the queen； 〃I never made a jest； but I broke it in
the making。 I am the most unfortunate woman in the world！〃
She looked so rueful； that the king took her in his arms； and they
sat down to consult。
〃Can you bear this？〃 said the king。
〃No； I can't；〃 said the queen。
〃Well； what's to be done？〃 said the king。
〃I'm sure I don't know；〃 said the queen。 〃But might you not try an
apology？〃
〃To my old sister； I suppose you mean？〃 said the king。
〃Yes；〃 said the queen。
〃Well； I don't mind；〃 said the king。
So he went the next morning to the house of the princess； and；
making a very humble apology； begged her to undo the spell。 But the
princess declared； with a grave face； that she knew nothing at all
about it。 Her eyes； however； shone pink； which was a sign that she
was happy。 She advised the king and queen to have patience； and to
mend their ways。 The king returned disconsolate。 The queen tried to
comfort him。
〃We will wait till she is older。 She may then be able to suggest
something herself。 She will know at least how she feels； and
explain things to us。〃
〃But what if she should marry？〃 exclaimed the king； in sudden
consternation at the idea。
〃Well； what of that？〃 rejoined the queen。
〃Just think！ If she were to have children！ In the course of a
hundred years the air might be as full of floating children as of
gossamers in autumn。〃
〃That is no business of ours；〃 replied the queen。 〃Besides； by that
time they will have learned to take care of themselves。〃
A sigh was the king's only answer。
He would have consulted the court physicians； but he was afraid
they would try experiments upon her。
6。 She Laughs Too Much。
Meantime； notwithstanding awkward occurrences； and griefs that she
brought upon her parents； the little princess laughed and grewnot
fat； but plump and tall。 She reached the age of seventeen； without
having fallen into any worse scrape than a chimney； by rescuing her
from which； a little bird…nesting urchin got fame and a black face。
Nor； thoughtless as she was； had she committed anything worse than
laughter at everybody and everything that came in her way。 When she
was told； for the sake of experiment； that General Clanrunfort was
cut to pieces with all his troops； she laughed； when she heard that
the enemy was on his way to besiege her papa's capital； she laughed
hugely； but when she was told that the city would certainly be
abandoned to the mercy of the enemy's soldierywhy； then she
laughed immoderately。 She never could be brought to see the serious
side of anything。 When her mother cried； she said；
〃What queer faces mamma makes！ And she squeezes water out of her
cheeks？ Funny mamma！〃
And when her papa stormed at her； she laughed； and danced round and
round him； clapping her hands； and crying
〃Do it again； papa。 Do it again！ It's SUCH fun！ Dear； funny papa！〃