The Pink Fairy Book, part 29 · page 21 2101The twelve of them received as much gold and silver as they could carry, and betook themselves home to their old father.102When he saw again his twelve sons, whom he had never expected to see more, he was so glad that he wept for joy.103The brothers told him how much Esben had done, and how he had saved their lives, and from that time forward he was no longer the butt of the rest at home.104Princess Minon-minette105Bibliotheque des Fees et aes Genies106Once upon a time there lived a young king whose name was Souci, and he had been brought up, ever since he was a baby, by the fairy Inconstancy.107Now the fairy Girouette had a kind heart, but she was a very trying person to live with, for she never knew her own mind for two minutes together, and as she was the sole ruler at Court till the prince grew up everything was always at sixes and sevens.108At first she determined to follow the old custom of keeping the young king ignorant of the duties he would have to perform some day; then, quite suddenly, she resigned the reins of government into his hands; but, unluckily, it was too late to train him properly for the post.109However, the fairy did not think of that, but, carried away by her new ideas, she hastily formed a Council, and named as Prime Minister the excellent ‘Ditto,’ so called because he had never been known to contradict anybody.checked by a teacher110Young Prince Souci had a handsome face, and at the bottom a good deal of common sense; but he had never been taught good manners, and was shy and awkward; and had, besides, never learned how to use his brains.111Under these circumstances it is not surprising that the Council did not get through much work.112Indeed, the affairs of the country fell into such disorder that at last the people broke out into open rebellion, and it was only the courage of the king, who continued to play the flute while swords and spears were flashing before the palace gate, that prevented civil war from being declared.113No sooner was the revolt put down than the Council turned their attention to the question of the young king’s marriage.114Various princesses were proposed to him, and the fairy, who was anxious to get the affair over before she left the Court for ever, gave it as her opinion that the Princess Diaphana would make the most suitable wife.115Accordingly envoys were sent to bring back an exact report of the princess’s looks and ways, and they returned saying that she was tall and well made, but so very light that the equerries who accompanied her in her walks had to be always watching her, lest she should suddenly be blown away.116This had happened so often that her subjects lived in terror of losing her altogether, and tried everything they could think of to keep her to the ground.117They even suggested that she should carry weights in her pockets, or have them tied to her ankles; but this idea was given up, as the princess found it so uncomfortable.118At length it was decided that she was never to go out in a wind, and in order to make matters surer still the equerries each held the end of a string which was fastened to her waist.119The Council talked over this report for some days, and then the king made up his mind that he would judge for himself, and pretend to be his own ambassador.120This plan was by no means new, but it had often succeeded, and, anyhow, they could think of nothing better.121Such a splendid embassy had never before been seen in any country.122The kingdom was left in the charge of the Prime Minister, who answered ‘Ditto’ to everything; but the choice was better than it seemed, for the worthy man was much beloved by the people, as he agreed with all they said, and they left him feeling very pleased with themselves and their own wisdom.123When the king arrived at Diaphana’s Court he found a magnificent reception awaiting him, for, though they pretended not to know who he was, secrets like this are never hidden.124Now the young king had a great dislike to long ceremonies, so he proposed that his second interview with the princess should take place in the garden.125The princess made some difficulties, but, as the weather was lovely and very still, she at last consented to the king’s wishes.126But no sooner had they finished their first bows and curtseys than a slight breeze sprung up, and began to sway the princess, whose equerries had retired out of respect.127The king went forward to steady her, but the wind that he caused only drove her further away from him.128He rushed after her exclaiming, ‘O princess! are you really running away from me?’1 2← previousThe Pink Fairy Book, part 28next →The Pink Fairy Book, part 30↑ back to The Pink Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg5615/29/page/2/