Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia

les of Ki

to do with that boy!" said

osalind, his illustrious consort, "I can't

ng used to read them aloud to her. A good many years had passed-seventeen, in fact-since Queen Rosalind was married, but you would not think it to look at her. Her grey eyes were as kind and soft and beautiful, her dark hair as dark

what to do with Di

ce Ricardo, but he cal

fairy books are at the bottom of his provoking behaviour," and he glanced round the shelves. "Now, when I was

arkness and all the rest of them, you never could have killed the Fire-beast and the Ice-beast, and-you never coul

ell together? There was my poor father, King Grognio, he wanted me to take to adventures, like other princes, fighting Firedrakes, and so forth; and I did not care for it, till you set me on," and he looked very kindly at her Majesty. "And now, here's Dick," the monarch continued, "I can't hold him back. He is always

ighed, and seemed

were quite proud when poor Dick came home with his first brace of gigantic fierce birds, killed off his own sword, and wi

h Dick would take a fancy to marry her,"

Of course she had the best of teachers, the Fairy Paribanou herself; but very few girls, in our time, devote so many hours to practice as dear Jaqueline. Even now, when she

as they learn the piano nowadays; but they had their music l

ut that's just one of the things I object to most in Dick. Round the world he goes, rescuing ladies from every kind of horror-from dragons, giants, cannibals,

Why, I have been told that you used to ask girls dreadful puzzling questions,

en you then,"

y marry all of them. And I think a girl should consider herself lucky if she

his own sword, as he did that first brace, in fair fight. But ever since he found his way into that closet where the fairy presents lie, everything has been made too easy for him. It is a royal road to glor

made the Ice-beast and the Fire-beast f

a good fight for it without all these fairy things? I wonder what the young rogue is about to-day? He'll be late for dinner, as usual, I daresay. I can't stand want of punctuality at meals," remarked his M

e queen. "If you are anxious about him, why

h, if you looked, you saw the person you wanted to see, and what he was

d the king; "it only wants three-q

stand, like other globes. He stared into it, he turned it round

do hope nothing has happened to the boy. He is so careless. If he dropped

ou frighten me!"

still turning th

ains to a rock beside the sea, in a lonely place. They must have f

ng so clever and learned, he would have

on hand. But where on earth can he be? . . . My word!"

ed the queen, with all

of his enormous mouth, all in armour set with sharp spikes, and a sword in his hand. He's covered with blood, but he's well and hearty. He must have been swallowed by the brute, and cut him up inside. Now he's cutting the beast's head off. Now he's gone to the princess; a very neat bow he has made her. Dick's manners are positively impr

real reason was that she wanted Ricardo to marry her favourite Prince

ming for her. I'm sorry for her, but it can't be helped, and Dick is half-way home by now on the Shoes o

joyous shout were heard. It was Prince Ri

e had a splendid day with a sea-monster. Get the head stuf

hland keeper, who had not previously been employed by a Reignin

library window, and gave his paren

in the morning," he said, "thro

was he in?"

m I met called it Ethio

of the globe is

Asia, perhaps," a

ing g

ions. Ethiopia in Asia!" he said to himself, but

dress. On the stairs he m

hurt?" she said,

is. I had a capital day, Jac

she very pr

ls. Why, you look quite white! What's the matter? Now you look a

rrying upstairs; and the princess, with a lit