with all he needed. "And," added she, "I must say you
are very polite and very good-tempered, in spite of your nose."

"What has the old woman to do with my nose?" thought the prince. "If I
were not so very hungry, I would soon show her what she is--a regular
old gossip and chatterbox. She to fancy she talks little, indeed! One
must be very foolish not to know one's own defects. This comes of being
born a princess. Flatterers have spoiled her and persuaded her that she
talks little. Little, indeed! I never knew anybody chatter so much."

While the prince thus meditated, the servants were laying the table,
the fairy asking them a hundred unnecessary questions, simply for the
pleasure of hearing herself talk. "Well," thought Wish, "I am delighted
that I came hither, if only to learn how wise I have been in never
listening to flatterers, who hide from us our faults, or make us believe
they are perfections. But they could never deceive me. I know all my own
weak points, I trust." As truly he believed he did.

So he went on eating contentedly, nor stopped till the old fairy began
to address him.

"Prince," said she, "will you be kind enough to turn a little? Your nose
casts such a shadow that I cannot see what is on my plate. And, as I was
saying, your father admired me and always made me welcome at court. What
is the court etiquette there now? Do the ladies still go to assemblies,
promenades, balls?--I beg your pardon for laughing, but how very long
your nose is."

"I wish you would cease to speak of my nose," said the prince, becoming
annoyed. "It is what it is, and I do not desire it any shorter."

"Oh! I see that I have vexed you," returned the fairy. "Nevertheless,
I am one of your best friends, and so I shall take the liberty of
always----" She would doubtless have gone on talking till midnight; but
the prince, unable to bear it any longer, here interrupted her, thanked
her for her hospitality, bade her a hasty adieu, and rode away.

He traveled for a long time, half over the world, but he heard no news
of Princess Darling. However, in each place he went to, he heard one
remarkable fact--the great length of his own nose. The little boys in
the streets jeered at him, the peasants stared at him, and the more
polite ladies and gentlemen whom he met in society used to try in vain
to keep from laughing, and to get out of his way as soon as they could.
So the poor prince became gradually quite forlorn and solitary; he