‘I’m sorry you’re going to leave us. However, I shall be glad to make you a small present before you go.’ And he felt in his coat, and after a moment’s search he drew out a minute pair of nail-scissors. ‘Perhaps these might be of some use to you. They’re very good for cutting threads of any kind. Good-day.’
And pretending not to notice his look of astonishment, he drew the Princess’s arm through his, and they walked off.
‘Why did you do that?’ asked the Princess, after they had got out of hearing.
The Prince laughed.
‘I thought it might surprise him a little,’ he said. ‘And they wouldn’t cut butter if they were heated, so he won’t do much harm with them.’
‘So you don’t mean to stop him?’
The Prince laughed.
‘No, no!’ he said; ‘why should I? He’ll never get to the moon.’
‘Then if you don’t stop him I shall go with him.’
‘I think he’ll take care that you don’t,’ retorted the Prince.