1] THE LOST PRINCE. 5I

 

keep ye, and he laughed and grinned more hideously
than ever.

‘Sir, observed Malvina sternly, ‘neither my sister
nor I are disposed for joking at present.’

‘Do you callit joking indeed ?’ rejoined the Giant.
“Were the King your father here, he would tell you that
it is no joke to be once within the walls of the Castle
of Pattle-perry. But more of this anon: fall to and
eat, my lambkins !’

‘Not so, sir, exclaimed Pettina, now stepping to
the front. ‘You deferred until this morning the busi-
ness upon which we have come to your kingdom,
and we must now press upon you that immediate
search be made for our brother.’

‘ Hoity, toity ! pig’s fry and potatoes!’ laughed the
Giant at these words. ‘Must you rule everybody,
little lassie? Suppose I will have nothing to say to
your request ? What then, eh?’

Pettina regarded him with a steady gaze: ‘ Ri-too-
ri—’ she began.

‘Hold!’ cried the Giant : ‘Don’t sing at breakfast
time! But what the dickens should I know of your
brother ?’

‘ Sir” exclaimed Malvina hastily, ‘we know that
you carried him away nine years ago and we want
him back !?

‘No!’ roared the Giant. ‘Who told you that?
Bumble-bees and blackberries ! Somebody has been
telling tales out of school! But suppose somebody
has told a cram—a buster—a story—a regular down-

right fib? Am 1a likely fellow to trouble myself to

E2