"You know they did not," cried the Prince. "I must say, Godmother, that you have strange taste in choosing friends."
"Each to his liking," responded Copetta, lightly. "I dare say, now, that you found more pleasure in that stupid jelly-fish, or that dismal brass monkey, or that crooked man,—and he's a beauty, by the way!"
"I did like them," replied the Prince, stoutly; "they were so good to me. Are they, too, friends of yours, Godmother?"
"Why, yes," said the fairy, her bright eyes twinkling elfishly, "I think I may say that they're rather intimate with me."
"I didn't know," ventured Vance, rather timidly, "but they might all be you, Godmother."
"Perhaps you think," she answered tartly, "that I am a sort of living multiplication-table, or that I have as many lives as a cat. By the way, can you bound the kingdom now?"
"I ought to be able to bound it," the Prince replied; "I have been quite around it on foot."
"Well," returned his godmother, acidly, "I dare say it hasn't hurt you. That reminds me; have you had enough of it?"
"Oh, please, Godmother," cried the Prince, "I have had enough of everything but kindness; and oh, Godmother, if you only would tell me how to turn my people back again, indeed, there is nothing I wouldn't do. Believe me, dear Godmother, I'm a very different sort of boy from the one who wouldn't learn the boundaries, and wanted to know the Blue Wizard; I am, indeed."
"Humph!" sniffed the fairy, though secretly she was not ill pleased with him, "you're a much dirtier one, at all events. Have you washed your face since you've been gone?"