'The Queen did bid me say,' he uttered with his brave little voice, '"Holy Writ hath it: Ecce quam bonum et dignum est fratres—fratres——"' He faltered without embarrassment and added, 'I ha' forgot the words.'
'Aye!' she said, 'they ha' been long forgotten in these places; I deem it is overlate to call them to mind.'
She looked upon him coldly for a long time. Then she stretched out her hand for his paper.
'Your Highness, I will set you a copy.'
She took his paper and wrote—
'Malo malo malâ.'
He held it in his chubby fist, his head on one side.
'I cannot conster it,' he said.
'Why, think upon it,' she answered. 'When I was thy age I knew it already two years. But I was better beaten than thou.'
He rubbed his little arm.