"What a funny nose?" cried the one.
"Not so funny as yours, madam," returned the other. "But pray let us
leave our noses alone, and be good enough to give me something to
eat, for I am dying with hunger, and so is my poor horse."
"With all my heart," answered the fairy. "Although your nose is
ridiculously long, you are no less the son of one of my best friends.
I loved your father like a brother; _he_ had a very handsome nose."
"What is wanting to my nose?" asked Wish, rather savagely.
"Oh! nothing at all. On the contrary there is a great deal too much of
it; but never mind, one may be a very honest man, and yet have too big
a nose. As I said, I was a great friend of your father's; he came
often to see me. I was very pretty then, and oftentimes he used to say
to me, 'My sister--'"
"I will hear the rest, madam, with pleasure, when I have supped; but
will you condescend to remember that I have tasted nothing all day?"
"Poor boy," said the fairy, "I will give you some supper directly; and
while you eat it I will tell you my history in six words, for I hate
much talking. A long tongue is as insupportable as a long nose; and I
remember when I was young how much I used to be admired because I was
not a talker; indeed, some one said to the queen, my mother,--for poor
as you see me now I am the daughter of a great king, who always--"
"Ate when he was hungry, I hope," interrupted the Prince, whose
patience was fast departing.
Pages:
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426