“‘Of course,’ said the ant who wanted to show how wise he was; and he laughed softly, he was so pleased that he could tell her something new. ‘You can’t see it till I tell you where it is, so I am wiser than you. Well, when the Queen has that in her hand, she can do anything she pleases,—it all comes to pass. It hangs just back of the throne, at the top. Now, don’t you think I am wise?’
“Brown Betty’s heart gave a great jump. ‘Oh, sir!’ she cried, ‘what a wonderful creature you are!’ which so delighted the ant, that he ran round and round her sixty times without stopping, talking to himself all the while; ‘She says I’m a wonderful creature.’
“All this time Brown Betty was thinking how she could get up into that throne; and presently she said as loud as she could, ‘One of the most wonderful places that ever I was in is this very spot. But I must sit on that throne before I can say it is the most wonderful place,’ she added boldly, while her poor knees shook and knocked so together she thought she should die.
“‘She must say it is the most wonderful place she was ever in,’ declared the company of ants in consternation, ‘else Captain Ant will have our heads off when we carry her back;’ and they ran round and round her worse than ever, saying this over all the time.
“At last they all stopped and swarmed around her, keeping her in the middle. ‘Will you say “This is the most wonderful place I was ever in,” if we let you get up in the throne?’ they cried at her.
“‘I will,’ promised Brown Betty as quick as a flash. So they opened their ranks; and before she could think twice, there she was up in the throne, and looking down into their faces. But how to get hold of the sword, she didn’t know.”
“O Polly, do let her get that sword!” cried little Dick in great distress. “Please show her how. Please hurry, Polly, and show her how quick.”
“And there she was, looking down into their faces, and she knew she must hurry and say the words she had promised, and then get down; and she was at her wits’ end to know what to do.”
“Please hurry, and show her how quick,” begged little Dick, his knees knocking together.
“‘What a wonderful top to that throne!’ cried Brown Betty; ‘I must see that first;’ and as quickly as she said the words, up she ran with all speed to the very tip of the throne spread over her head. The wise ant who had told her of the sword, just then screamed out, ‘Hold her back!’ but it was too late; Brown Betty’s little bits of eyes were keen and sharp; there was the sword, hanging before her; and in a second it was in her mouth, and she was waving it over the hundred ants.