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her an awful whipping。 Yet not a tear would flow。 She looked grave； and
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her laughing sounded uncommonly like screamingthat was all。 The
good old tyrant； though he put on his best gold spectacles to look； could
not discover the smallest cloud in the serene blue of her eyes。
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9。 Put Me in Again。
It must have been about this time that the son of a king； who lived a
thousand miles from Lagobel set out to look for the daughter of a queen。
He travelled far and wide； but as sure as he found a princess； he found
some fault in her。 Of course he could not marry a mere woman； however
beautiful； and there was no princess to be found worthy of him。 Whether
the prince was so near perfection that he had a right to demand perfection
itself； I cannot pretend to say。 All I know is； that he was a fine；
handsome； brave； generous； well…bred； and well…behaved youth； as all
princes are。
In his wanderings he had come across some reports about our princess；
but as everybody said she was bewitched； he never dreamed that she could
bewitch him。 For what indeed could a prince do with a princess that had
lost her gravity？ Who could tell what she might not lose next？ She
might lose her visibility； or her tangibility； or； in short； the power of
making impressions upon the radical sensorium； so that he should never
be able to tell whether she was dead or alive。 Of course he made no
further inquiries about her。 One day he lost sight of his retinue in a great
forest。 These forests are very useful in delivering princes from their
courtiers； like a sieve that keeps back the bran。 Then the princes get
away to follow their fortunes。 In this way they have the advantage of the
princesses； who are forced to marry before they have had a bit of fun。 I
wish our princesses got lost in a forest sometimes。
One lovely evening； after wandering about for many days； he found
that he was approaching the outskirts of this forest； for the trees had got so
thin that he could see the sunset through them； and he soon came upon a
kind of heath。 Next he came upon signs of human neighbourhood； but by
this time it was getting late； and there was nobody in the fields to direct
him。
After travelling for another hour； his horse； quite worn out with long
labour and lack of food； fell； and was unable to rise again。 So he continued
his journey on foot。 At length he entered another woodnot a wild forest；
but a civilized wood； through which a footpath led him to the side of a
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lake。 Along this path the prince pursued his way through the gathering
darkness。 Suddenly he paused； and listened。 Strange sounds came
across the water。 It was； in fact； the princess laughing。 Now there was
something odd in her laugh； as I have already hinted； for the hatching of a
real hearty laugh requires the incubation of gravity； and perhaps this was
how the prince mistook the laughter for screaming。 Looking over the
lake； he saw something white in the water； and； in an instant； he had torn
off his tunic； kicked off his sandals； and plunged in。 He soon reached the
white object； and found that it was a woman。 There was not light enough
to show that she was a princess； but quite enough to show that she was a
lady； for it does not want much light to see that。
Now I cannot tell how it came about；whether she pretended to be
drowning； or whether he frightened her； or caught her so as to embarrass
her；but certainly he brought her to shore in a fashion ignominious to a
swimmer； and more nearly drowned than she had ever expected to be； for
the water had got into her throat as often as she had tried to speak。
At the place to which he bore her； the bank was only a foot or two
above the water； so he gave her a strong lift out of the water； to lay her on
the bank。 But； her gravitation ceasing the moment she left the water；
away she went up into the air； scolding and screaming。
〃You naughty； naughty； NAUGHTY； NAUGHTY man！〃 she cried。
No one had ever succeeded in putting her into a passion before。…
before。When the prince saw her ascend； he thought he must have been
bewitched； and have mistaken a great swan for a lady。 But the princess
caught hold of the topmost cone upon a lofty fir。 This came off； but she
caught at another； and； in fact； stopped herself by gathering cones；
dropping them as the stalks gave way。 The prince； meantime； stood in
the water； staring； and forgetting to get out。 But the princess
disappearing； he scrambled on shore； and went in the direction of the tree。
There he found her climbing down one of the branches towards the stem。
But in the darkness of the wood； the prince continued in some
bewilderment as to what the phenomenon could be； until； reaching the
ground； and seeing him standing there； she caught hold of him； and said；
〃I'll tell papa。〃
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〃Oh no； you won't！〃 returned the prince。
〃Yes； I will；〃 she persisted。 〃What business had you to pull me down
out of the water； and throw me to the bottom of the air？ I never did you
any harm。〃
〃Pardon me。 I did not mean to hurt you。〃
〃I don't believe you have any brains； and that is a worse loss than your
wretched gravity。 I pity you。'
The prince now saw that he had come upon the bewitched princess；
and had already offended her。 But before he could think what to say next；
she burst out angrily； giving a stamp with her foot that would have sent her
aloft again but for the hold she had of his arm；
〃Put me up directly。〃
〃Put you up where； you beauty？〃 asked the prince。
He had fallen in love with her almost； already； for her anger made her
more charming than any one else had ever beheld her； and； as far as he
could see； which certainly was not far； she had not a single fault about her；
except； of course； that she had not any gravity。 No prince； however；
would judge of a princess by weight。 The loveliness of her foot he would
hardly estimate by the depth of the impression it could make in mud。
〃Put you up where； you beauty？〃 asked the prince。
〃In the water； you stupid！〃 answered the princess。
〃Come； then；〃 said the prince。
The condition of her dress； increasing her usual difficulty in walking；
compelled her to cling to him； and he could hardly persuade himself that
he was not in a delightful dream； notwithstanding the torrent of musical
abuse with which she overwhelmed him。 The prince being therefore in
no hurry； they came upon the lake at quite another part； where the bank
was twenty…five feet high at least； and when they had reached the edge； he
turned towards the princess； and said；
〃How am I to put you in？〃 〃That is your business；〃 she answered；
quite snappishly。 〃You took me output me in again。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the prince； and； catching her up in his arms； he
sprang with her from the rock。 The princess had just time to give one
delighted shriek of laughter before the water closed over them。 When they
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came to the surface； she found that； for a moment or two； she could not
even laugh； for she had gone down with such a rush； that it was with
difficulty she recovered her breath。 The instant they reached the surface…
…
〃How do you like falling in？〃 said the prince。
After some effort the princess panted out；
〃Is that what you call FALLING IN？〃