Then the King made a speech.
“You have done us a great service, young friend,” he said; “and we hope to do something for you to show how much we appreciate it.”
“Sir,” said Mary Frances, handing him the bottle, “if it had not been for the dolphin and the cat, I never could have found the story.”
“The dolphin has been rewarded,” said the Story King; “he has had his head cut off——”
“Oh,” cried Mary Frances, “the poor, dear dolphin!”
“And has been turned again into a prince!” added the Story Queen. “He was the prince who kissed the Sleeping Beauty, and was under the spell of the old witch outside the chain curtain.”
“And the cat has been rewarded,” said the King. “He has charge of all the cats and kittens in all the stories ever told, or ever-to-be-told.”
This made Mary Frances happy, for she knew the cat would love that charge.
“Now,” said the Story King, “if you are not too tired, we will get over the business of trying the pirate and the witch!”
“I am not tired, thank you,” said Mary Frances, “for I slept three hundred and sixty-five days and nights on my way here.”