Half-Hours with Great Story-Tellers

after breakfast, the king went into his counting-house, an

gold sovereigns weighs a quarter of an ounce, and my rea

they lay with a broad smile of self-sa

ould not swallow it. The king heard her sobbing. Glad of anybody, but especially of his queen, to quarrel wit

?' exclaimed he. 'What a

the queen, looking rue

ou've just eaten your breakfast,- t

sobbed her majesty. It

imney nor down the draw-well. Just hear her laughing. Yet the king

light-hearted, I am sure, w

ed, answered the queen, looking, wit

to be light-hande

be light-fingered,'

to be light-foote

gan the queen; but the

h he has had only imaginary opponents, and in which, therefore, he has come

be light-minded.' retorted the queen

heel, and betook himself to his counting-house again. But he was

," screamed she, determined to have more

hair that troubled him; it was the doubled use of the word light. For the king hated all witticisms, and punning especially. And besides he cou

looked angry still, because she knew that she was guil

tionable between married people, of any rank, not to say kings and que

jest, but I broke it in the making. I am

he king took her in his arms;

ar this?' sa

't,' said

s to be done?'

said the queen. 'But mig

I suppose you mea

said t

n't mind,' s

declared, with a very grave face, that she knew nothing at all about it. Her eyes, however, shone pink, which was a sign that she was not ha

be able to suggest something. She will know a

y!' exclaimed the king, in su

f that?' rejoi

the course of a hundred years the air might be as f

e queen. 'Besides, by that time, they will

the king's

physicians; but he was afraid the