PRINCE RICCARDO. III

happy whisper, blushing beautifully, for that
was a foolish habit of hers.

“Tt is quite true,” said the king, ‘‘ and there-
fore I thought it best to bring Dick up on fairy
books, that he might know what is right, and
have no nonsense about him. But perhaps the
thing has been overdone; at all events, it is
not a success. I wonder if fathers and sons will
ever understand each other, and get on well
together? There was my poor father, King Grog-
nio, he wanted me to take to adventures, like
other princes, fighting Firedrakes, and so forth ;
and I did not care for it, till you set me on,” and
he looked very kindly at her Majesty. ‘‘ Andnow,
here’s Dick,” the monarch continued, ‘‘ I can’t
hold him back. He is always after a giant, or
a dragon, or a magician, as the case may be;
he will certainly be ploughed for his examina-
tion at College. Never opens a book. What
does he care, off after every adventure he can
hear about? An idle, restless youth! Ah, my
poor country, when I am gone, what may not
be your misfortunes under Ricardo!”

Here his Majesty sighed, and seemed plunged
in thought.

‘“‘ But you are not going yet, my dear,” said
the queen. ‘‘Why you are not forty! And
young people will be young people. You were
quite proud when poor Dick came home with
his first brace of gigantic fierce birds, killed off
his own sword, and with such a pretty princess

’