998 THE LAND OF PLUCK

what you ask. Pray that these wicked wishes may vanish
from your hearts!”

But the prince and princess were not satisfied with this
answer. They applied to the most powerful of their cour-
tiers, and, to their great astonishment, met with a refusal,
accompanied with a smile and a polite bow. They even
had recourse to the court jester.

”

“Ah, that trouble is a very precious thing,” said the
jester. “One cannot buy it, and it is not to be had for the
asking. But one may borrow it.”

“Good!” cried the delighted pair. “We shall borrow
some.”

“But,” added the jester, “if you borrow any, you must
pay back in the same coin.”

“Alas!” sighed the prince and the princess. “How can
we, if we have no trouble which belongs to us?”

“True! There is the trouble,” said the jester, as he
skipped away.

“What did he mean by those words?” said the prince,
nearly out of patience; “but we need not concern our-
selves about what he says—he is only a fool!” :

Still the prince did concern himself about it, and he lay
long on the soft grass under his favorite tree that day,
pondering the jester’s words.

The princess sought Master Cap-and-Bells again, but
the interview ended sadly; for her little highness turned
away despairingly, and the jester looked sorely puzzled.
“What stupidity,” he muttered to himself, “for the whole
court to be compelled to keep this royal youth and maiden

in ignorance of such a fact as trouble—the common lot of