"All stories are long; all good stories," said a voice, and there was the giant peeping at them from behind the trees!
"It's all right," he explained. "I'm lying down, so I shan't be in anybody's way."
So George told them his story—all that you have read in these pages, and everybody listened, and now and then told a little bit themselves when it came to the part which they knew.
At last they came to the end. "And so they married and lived happily ever after!" said the Queen, with a smile.
George jumped to his feet and clapped his hands. "I told you I was right!" he cried to the giant. "All stories end in that way."
"Ah, but your story isn't finished, so I shall be right," said the giant. "You're not married, you know. Ha, ha!"
"Stop laughing at once!" ordered the witch. "You'll curdle all the cream if you're not careful. Laugh down in your boots and then it won't matter."
"I can't," replied the giant. "I've tried, oh, ever so hard, and it always comes out the wrong way. Whatever I do is wrong."
"Oh, please, don't cry!" begged George. "I'm sure you did try. It must be difficult to remember that you are a giant."