let her down. It is true, they might let her fly into the fire or
the coal-hole, or through the window; but none of these accidents
had happened as yet. If you heard peals of laughter resounding from
some unknown region, you might be sure enough of the cause. Going
down into the kitchen, or the room, you would find Jane and Thomas,
and Robert and Susan, all and sum, playing at ball with the little
princess. She was the ball herself, and did not enjoy it the less
for that. Away she went, flying from one to another, screeching
with laughter. And the servants loved the ball itself better even
than the game. But they had to take some care how they threw her,
for if she received an upward direction, she would never come down
again without being fetched.



5. What Is to Be Done?


But above-stairs it was different. One day, for instance, after
breakfast, the king went into his counting-house, and counted out
his money. The operation gave him no pleasure.

"To think," said he to himself, "that every one of these gold
sovereigns weighs a quarter of an ounce, and my real, live,
flesh-and-blood princess weighs nothing at all!"

And he hated his gold sovereigns, as they lay with a broad smile of
self-satisfaction all over their yellow faces.

The queen was in the parlour, eating bread and honey. But at the