The King laughed.
“Perhaps your mother wants you to learn manners, you young cub.”
“Oh, bother manners! What is the use of being a prince if I can’t do what I like? And I do wish she wouldn’t talk—” He stopped suddenly, recollecting his mother’s warning, and blushed red.
Maximilian disdained to take advantage of the boy’s simplicity by questioning him.
“Well, what were you doing with Wolf before I came?” he said. “Show me.”
Ernest called the dog to him, only too pleased to show him off.
“Now, Wolf, attention!”
The dog raised himself on his hind legs, and made a ludicrous attempt to remain perfectly motionless while preserving his balance.
“Present arms to the Chancellor!”
A growl was the response.