Jock entered and Queen Content gave him a good supper. It was only bread and milk, to be sure, but no dainties at the table of a king ever tasted better. And although the bed that Jock slept on was made of straw, he had never rested so well in his life.
The next morning Jock continued his journey to the village. He had not been there very long when he discovered the true state of affairs.
He realized that the foolish people had put away the most beautiful queen in the world for the most disagreeable.
“I’m going to help these foolish people,” said Jock to himself, and he shook all over with merriment at the mere thought of doing them a good turn.
Straight he went to the palace of Queen Discord and begged an audience with her most obnoxious majesty.
“What do you want, good-for-nothing?” said the haughty Queen, frowning on Jock, who stood cap in hand with a quizzical look on his merry face.
“I have good news for your majesty,” said Jock with a grin.
“Good news!” thundered the horrid queen.
“It is against our laws. You shall be thrown into prison; we don’t want people who go about telling good news.”
Jock’s grin broadened, but he saw his mistake and quickly added: “Ah! your majesty, I have just traveled through your uncle’s kingdom—King Hate—and I found nothing there but strife and confusion and bitterness of spirit. Your people are so much happier that I was only going to remind you of the fact. Surely that is good news.”