"I will not."

"But you must -- begging Your Majesty's pardon for
the contradiction."

"Kitticut," cried poor Rinkitink, "you must save me
from being captured by these, my subjects. What! must I
return to Gilgad and be forced to reign in splendid
state when I much prefer to eat and sleep and sing in
my own quiet way? They will make me sit in a throne
three hours a day and listen to dry and tedious affairs
of state; and I must stand up for hours at the court
receptions, till I get corns on my heels; and forever
must I listen to tiresome speeches and endless
petitions and complaints!"

"But someone must do this, Your Majesty," said
Pinkerbloo respectfully, "and since you were born to be
our King you cannot escape your duty."

"'Tis a horrid fate!" moaned Rinkitink. "I would die
willingly, rather than be a King -- if it did not hurt
so terribly to die."

"You will find it much more comfortable to reign than
to die, although I fully appreciate Your Majesty's
difficult position and am truly sorry for you," said
Pinkerbloo.

King Kitticut had listened to this conversation