The Hope of the Katzekopfs

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at visit of the Lady Abracadabra to the Court of King Katzekopf, in which she asserted her authority, and proposed the companion

ore little Witikind was transported from th

e happy as the day was long at the court of King Katzekopf. But when it really came to bidding farewell: when he saw his mother trying to smile and encourage him, yet was sure, by her appearance, that she had been weeping all night long; when Ediltrudis and Veronica, quite unable to bear up against this, their first d

we trust that many happy days may be in store, that he will return to Taubennest better and wiser every way than when he left it; that his mother will fold him in her arms once more, and that his sisters will shed more tears of pleasure over him than now of sorrow; but never, never will he be again as when first he q

rself worthy of the blessing while yet it is yours. You know not how soon you may be taken from them, or they from you: str

he city, it was a thing altogether beyond Witikind’s conceptions. Such a labyrinth of streets and houses! such crowds of

hrone, with a velvet nightcap on his head, and his crown over his nightcap (for his Majesty was now growing so fat and infirm, that when he was not eating or governing the country, he was usually asleep); and then, when he had been patted

cking-horse in a moment, and running up to Witikind asked whether he was the lit

ffirmative, he immediately threw his ar

be 86so happy together,” said he. “I kno

home at Taubennest; but he was grateful to the Prince for his kindness, and anxious by all the means in his power to show that he was so. He was a very gentle, amiable, good humoured boy, ever ready to oblige, a

rovements which had taken place in their prospects; and that, whereas, they scarce knew what it was to have five 87minutes in the course of the d

diligently, were now left in peace, because, for the time, he found more immediate amusement in Witikind than in the art of tormenting. His companio

he feelings natural to his position, which tended to avert, for

on his pony,—when he had done with it himself. By-and-bye, however, when he saw that his attendants paid more respect to him than to the son of Count Rudolf, he thought it

at he never was to allow himself to think of anything save how he could best please the heir-apparent. He felt it was his business to yield his own inclinations to the Prince’s, and he invariably did

n to compare the ways of Ediltrudis and Veronica, with those of the Prince, and certainly the result of the comparison was not in his royal highness’s favour. On the other hand, the

a model for his imitation. “What a sweet little boy is Count Rudolf’s son;” nurse Yellowlily w

ick at his lessons; never stupid, never idle,

so civil-spoken, and gives so little trouble, and isn’t proud, nor quar

means to prevent the prince from bene

with him: and the more he gave up his own will to the Prince’s, the more he strove to oblige him, the more the Prince seemed to dislike him

where nobody was likely to find him, or would sit moping on a bench in the palace gardens, thin

see out of his window as he sat in his arm chair. Witikind did not know this, or he would never have chosen it. He wa

ion, and so the matter passed from his thoughts. But when another day, and another, and another, and another, had elapsed, and Witikind was still seen on his favourite bench, the King’s curiosity was quite rouse

willig?” asked the King, so soon as

refers playing alone

you came here on purpos

, Si

he Prince pl

because he does not li

quarrelled

, S

g kindly. “It is my wish that you should be so. I gave orders

rd “home,” which the King had used, made it overflow. Taubennest and all its dear ones, rose before his eyes, and he began to sob violently. The King saw there was something at which he had n

he latter, as soon as he saw him, “you have been complaining of

u would not play with me, and I told him I suppo

hated you before, and I hat

you hate m

answered the heir

n’t hate you, Prince; I would be very gla

ist, and striking the table with it. “I won’t let you love me.

neaking?” asked Witikind, the

ys trying to show off before Nurse Yellowlily, and the gov

ould never say a word, unless they could praise us both. Oh, Prince, you would be so muc

s if I am ever so self-willed? I wish I had never seen your face.

y it to one who was your equal. But it is no use talking with you. If I am what you charge me with being, I am no fit companion for you;

, which stood upon the table, and threw it at Witikind. Had it reached him, it might have hurt 96him very seriously; but Eigenwillig was in too great a passion to t

ely entered the apartment, to see what was the matter. The first object which met

find you out sooner or later, and now I have caught you. How dared you to break that lo

ajesty, I did

son was likewise in the room. “Not break 97it? Are you not ashamed to utter such f

him, and I wish he had never come here; but he didn’t break the looking-glass. I broke it; do not beat him; he doesn’t deserve it. I did the m

on his own shoulders. There was still something to work upon; and had his mother been anything but what she was, the incident might have been turned as much to his advantage as to her own. But her weakness and 98vanit

yourself in such a manner, as to put him in a rage, as he says you did? And what

les to the King, Mada

that the Prince is cruel to you. And like a little artful, hypocritic

d with all these charges

u are struck dumb; now you are found out,

ve me, when I do speak?” replied Wit

le deceitful creature!

r deceived you, I had rather say nothing, except that I hope y

in still greater anger, “I am not going

ike him, but I don’t think he ever tells lies; and I don’t think he ever tried to s

; but his foolish mother, as soon as she perceive

came, and now every thing goes wrong, and I can trace his finger at the bottom of all the mischief. I always misdoubted the intentions of that cross-grained old toad, my Fairy-aunt, ever since she insisted on giving you your horrid name. I was sure her professions of kindliness were a blind, and that she was meaning mischief all the time. And I am quite satisfied now that this creature whi

ber over the injustice which he was suffering, and writhing under the indignity of being charged with saying what was no

ral in the precocious aptness with which he received their lessons. The Baroness Yellowlily had occasionally found great entanglement in the poor child’s sunny ringlets, when she combed them after he had been at play: this was a strong presumption they were elflocks. He was wont to talk with rapture of the happy home he had left; this, in the opinion of the Lord Chamberlain, was proof positive that he had come from Fairy-lan

f they kept him longer in the palace, there was no calculating the amount of mischief which might be effected by him. However, it was resolved, that of the two evils, th

eir belief of his elvish origin, may be doubted. To seem so was to follow the fashion, and a

to pay court to her Majesty; but all made it evident that they wished to have nothing to say to him. A thousand petty mortifications were heaped upon him. He was kept at his lessons for many more hours than heretofore, and his tasks were made doubly difficult. He was allowed, as formerly, to take his meals with the Prince, b

had become entangled in a net, and that some unseen hand was preventing his escape. And all this while, Prince Eigenwillig was growing more and more unkind, sometimes not speaking to him at all, and other times loading him with abuse and reproaches. For weeks a

ear, he grew more and more downcast. Sometimes he thought of running away; but whither should he run, and how could he find his way home? Sometimes he resolved to

begin to mend; and just as Witikind began to despa

Prince had carefully abstained from letting fall any expression which should convey to Witikind the knowledge that he was su

a door of communication with the gardens.—The Prince was amusing himself with a game of battledore, and Witikind stood near to pick up the shuttlecock for him 107as it occasionally fell

ainted with all the gorgeous hues which the setting sun threw over them, that his thoughts reverted to Taubennest, and that fatal evening when he had expressed a wish to quit it. Surely the error had brought its recompense of punishment! If he had done wrong, he had suffered for it, and had learned a lesson which would last him his life. Oh bitter and sincere was his repentance!

and remained inattentive to his duties. How cou

sharp, impatient tone.—Witikind started, and ran forward in a ra

“look behind the statue.” There were two st

pe of the Katzekopfs to the child of 109Countess

nce?” said Witikind with a

to be—an elf’s-brat: the good-for-nothing, impish son o

have fled from him for ever; his entire character appeared altered on the instant. Anything personal he had long since proved that he could submit to, but the insult to his mother ca

ming eye which told him, boy as he was, that Countess Ermengarde’s son was not to be trifled with. The Hope of the Katz

on him as he retreated step by step. “Unsay what you have said

ith anger, his arm outstretched, and his fist clenched, repeating in tones hoarse from excitement,

inda’s wondering eyes, when she issued from her boudoir t

d the Prince, as soon as he saw his mot

the Prince will be bewitched by this

eomen of the guard into the room

and tie him hand and foot, and then flog him till

th from the aperture the Lady Abracadabra sprung, and with a single bound darted into the midst of the group. Her expression was that of the deepest indignation, and her robe seemed glowing with living fire. 112Throwing her

the indignities and unkindnesses you have heaped upon him! Think not that I have not overheard your shameless words of ingratitude towards myself. Think not, above all, that I, his friend and protector, have kept Witikind an hour longer than was necessary for his future happiness, in this abode of

rew herself

now. The sooner you take leave of your son the bet

ried the Pri

e for you if you don

ll you!” repea

cy’s sake, do as you are bid; you know not w

but fixing her eye upon him, “come here and beg Witikin

tzekopfs had no such intention. He advanced indeed close to Witikind, and stretched out one hand towards him, but with the other he snatched the Fairy’s wand off the table, and be

tentous power of Abracadabra’s wand that, even in his hands, it failed not to work the

cipated my purpose, evil-minded child that you are!”

Hare! hu

halt n

t Tau

ely be, by th

sman ha

nd ala

il I ch

rth! awa

little creature safe on its r

mischief, “I come to settle my account

s voice and manner; for, in spite of his recent triumph, he was utterly terrified at what he had

a toad. She, therefore, merely stretched out her hand, and caught hold of t

the wand!

” cried Ei

t me di

ughty boy, clinging fast to one end of t

enough to loose it befo

willig,” cried his mot

ou tell me. If you had not spoilt me, I shouldn’t be

de her way towards the keyhole. By the time she had reached it, dragging the Prince after her, she had shrunk to the size which 117enabled her to go through it. But she paused for

low

ow h

yhole, and in another instant

the Queen. “Let her take her wand,

it was left in sight. Now not more than an inch; now not half an inch;

the Queen, “why d

I CAN’T; it has grown to my fingers; it sticks to them! Oh dear! dear! what shall I do? my fingers

her horror, the Queen beheld each joint tapering and elongating itself, till it could pass through the narrow aperture; no

ugh.” But she was wrong; the boy’s hair was rapidly sucked through the keyh

part of the original wall. Then, in her dismay, she seized hold of the body of the Prince, for the purpose of dragging him ba

the Fairy. “Hold his legs tight, and in half a minu

d motionless, watching the receding body of the Prince

ady Abracadabra. “He makes a very c

hed to the door leading into the f

fore her something 120that seemed like a ball of rope; but whi

ad bounded over the parapet, and were lost to view; and Queen Ninnilinda