[Illustration: I wish I could do it myself!]

"You must get well first," said John, laughing.

"I will try," said the Prince, with a new spirit in his tone. And from
that moment he began to grow stronger.

Now came days when the palace was much happier than it had been for
years. The presence of the animals was in itself a joy to the King's
people, long starved for the lack of pets. And John's sunny face and
quaint smile were reflected on all about him. There is nothing so
catching as good humor, and John started an epidemic which spread
through the palace, and indeed through the whole city. No one knew how
it happened. But before long the flaxen-haired boy was the pet of the
whole town. Not only was he welcome always in the Prince's chamber,
but every door at which he knocked opened gladly to him, and he was at
home wherever he went.

Only the King held aloof. He had grown strangely grim and sullen since
his son's cure was assured. The King was jealous.

What with the animals to play with and John's tumbling, the Prince was
continually in gales of laughter, and every day he grew plumper and
more rosy. Sometimes it was Brutus who amused him; often the cat and
kittens, his first friends. The raven became a great favorite after
his introduction to the Prince, which happened in this wise.

John had delayed to bring the bird into the royal chamber, he was so
mischievous. But one day when the Prince seemed very merry, John
slipped out and fetched the black fellow on his shoulder. On being