Moth’s story was liked very much and Titania was so pleased that her two fairies had told such pretty tales that she turned to the king saying,
“My dear Oberon, will not one of your people tell us a story next?”
“Certainly,” replied the king, and he at once called Puck to him and asked him if he did not know an amusing story which he could tell them.
“Your Majesty,” said Puck, in a serious tone, “I can tell you all the stories that have ever been told, or that ever will be told. Which one will you have?”
“Something funny,” said the king.
Puck considered for a moment, then he said, “I can tell you about a very funny thing if you have not heard it before. Ariel has boasted that he could put a girdle round the earth in forty minutes, but I can tell you of a nose which grew and grew and grew until it would have gone right round the earth which would have been a much more wonderful kind of girdle than Ariel could have managed.”
“Tell it us,” answered Oberon, and Puck turning a back somersault landed neatly on the tale-teller’s stool and commenced the story of
