CHAPTER XIII.
THE THREE BOXES.
DOROTHY climbed on the Talking Chair and sat with her back to the quaintly carved face. She turned her head and whispered:
“Please tell me another story, like a good chair.”
“Which shall it be to-day?” asked the chair.
“O, tell me about ‘The Three Boxes’!” exclaimed Dorothy, “I have been thinking about them.”
“Listen, I’ll begin,” said the chair:—
Once upon a time in a beautiful castle lived a prince. He was honest, brave and as wise as he was handsome. His name was Prince Charming, and everybody loved him. There was only one thing that his people desired him to do, and that was to give them a queen. But although beautiful maidens lived in his country and many a lovely princess had visited his castle, he had never seen one that he cared to make queen.
One day at a grand fête his greatest captain said to him: