resolved to hold a council of three upon it; and so they sent for
the princess. In she came, sliding and flitting and gliding from
one piece of furniture to another, and put herself at last in an
armchair, in a sitting posture. Whether she could be said to sit,
seeing she received no support from the seat of the chair, I do not
pretend to determine.

"My dear child," said the king, "you must be aware by this time
that you are not exactly like other people."

"Oh, you dear funny papa! I have got a nose, and two eyes, and all
the rest. So have you. So has mamma."

"Now be serious, my dear, for once," said the queen.

"No, thank you, mamma; I had rather not."

"Would you not like to be able to walk like other people?" said the
king.
"No indeed, I should think not. You only crawl. You are such slow
coaches!"

"How do you feel, my child?" he resumed, after a pause of
discomfiture.

"Quite well, thank you."

"I mean, what do you feel like?"

"Like nothing at all, that I know of."