Princess: (To King.) Is it true that the cook
is gone away?
King: (Aghast.) What's that you're saying?
Queen: Don't be annoying the King's mind
with such things. He should be hidden from every
trouble and care.
Princess: Was it you sent him away?
Queen: Not at all. If he went it was through
foolishness and pride.
Princess: It is said in the house that you annoyed
him.
Queen: I never annoyed any person in my life,
unless it might be for their own good. But it
fails some to recognise their best friend. Just
teaching him I was to pickle onion thinnings as it
was done at the King of Alban's Court.
Princess: Didn't he know that before?
Queen: Whether or no, he gave me very little
thanks, but turned around and asked his wages.
Hurrying him and harrying him he said I was,
and away with him, himself and his four-and-twenty
apprentices.
King: That is bad news, and pitiful news.