“‘How do you know all this?’ the princess questioned.
“So the little hare told his story for the third time, speaking so earnestly that the princess could not fail to be impressed by it. She thanked him for his advice, and after giving him some tender leaves to eat, prepared to receive the eighty-one brothers. They came a few minutes later, resplendent in the magnificent clothes they had put on in the princess’s honor. Indeed, they all looked so handsome that she found it hard to believe the story of their cruelty. While they were talking of their journey to her kingdom, however, some of the princes told how they had made sport of a little hare too stupid to know that salt was not the best thing for open wounds, and she noticed that the youngest brother was the only one who did not enjoy the story. At this, rage filled her gentle heart.
“‘Turn out the eighty princes!’ she cried to her attendants; ‘no one who is cruel to so small a creature as a little hare is fit to rule over a kingdom. But with you,’ she added, turning to the youngest prince, ‘will I share my throne, for you are a wise and merciful man.’
“You may be sure the youngest prince was happy to hear that, for, after once seeing the beautiful princess, the thought of parting from her was like lead in his breast.
“So the cruel brothers were drummed out of the palace with shouts of scorn; but the gentle prince and princess went into the garden to thank the little hare. They could not find him, however, search as they would; for as soon as he learned of the success of his plan, he had hopped away to see the world, wiser for his day’s experiences.”
“Is that all?” Alice asked.
“That is all,” Nurse answered. “And now it is time for you to go to bed.”
