said he to himself as he climbed on to the stool. 'Here I am,
son-in-law to a real live Queen! What will the neighbours say?'

At first he sat down on the edge of the stool, but even there it was
warm, and after a while he began to fidget, saying, 'Dear me,
mother-in-law! how hot your house is! Everything I touch seems
burning!'

'You are out of the wind there, my son,' replied the cunning old
Queen; 'sit more in the middle of the stool, and then you will feel
the breeze and get cooler.'

But he didn't! for the stewpan-lid by this time had become so hot,
that the Rat fairly frizzled when he sat down on it; and it was not
until he had left all his tail, half his hair, and a large piece of
his skin behind him, that he managed to escape, howling with pain, and
vowing that never, never, never again would he make a bargain!




THE FAITHFUL PRINCE


Long ago there lived a King who had an only son, by name Prince
Bahramgor, who was as splendid as the noonday sun, and as beautiful as
the midnight moon. Now one day the Prince went a-hunting, and he
hunted to the north, but found no game; he hunted to the south, yet no
quarry arose; he hunted to the east, and still found nothing. Then he
turned towards the setting sun, when suddenly from a thicket flashed a