PRINCE PRIGIO. 23

 

CHAPTER IV.

How Rrince Prigio was deserted by Everpbodp.

i EANWHILE, Prince Prigio had to suffer

many unpleasant things. Though he

: was the crown prince (and though his

arguments were unanswerable), every-

body shunned him for a-coward. The

queen, who did not believe in Firedrakes,
alone took his side. He was not only avoided
' by all, but he had most disagreeable scenes
with his own cousins, Lady Molinda and Lady
Kathleena. In the garden Lady Molinda
met him walking alone, and did not bow to
him.

“Dear Molly,” said the prince, who liked
her, ‘“‘how have I been so unfortunate as to
offend you?”

‘My name, sir, is Lady Molinda,” she said,
very proudly; ‘‘and you have sent your own
brother to his grave!”

‘‘Oh, excuse me,” said the prince, “I am
certain he has merely gone off on his travels.
He’ll come back when he’s tired: there ave
no Firedrakes; a French writer says they
are ‘purement fabuleux,’ purely fabulous, you
know.”