The children both said “Yes” in a very small whisper, and cowered down almost under the clothing, and held on tight, so as to keep from stirring.
“THE YOUNG KHAN AND KHANT ENTERED THE KINGDOM WITH A MAGNIFICENT RETINUE.”
The papa went on: “Well, about the time they had got these two laws in full force, and forty or fifty thousand boys girls had been banished for making a mess, and pretty nearly all the neat old ladies in the kingdom had been thrown from a high tower for cleaning up after the Prince and Princess Butterflyflutterby and Flutterbybutterfly, the young Khan and Khant of Tartary entered the kingdom with a magnificent retinue of followers, to select a bride and groom from the children of the royal family. As there were no children in the royal family except the twins, the choice of the Khan and Khant naturally fell upon the Prince—”
“Butterflyflutterby!”
“And the Princess—”
“Flutterbybutterfly!”
“Correct. It also happened that the Khan and the Khant were brother and sister; but if you can't tell which was the brother and which was the sister, the story stops at this point.”
“Why, but, uncle,” said the little girl, reproachfully, “you haven't ever told us which is which yourself yet!”