very polite and very good…tempered； in spite of your nose。〃
〃What has the old woman to do with my nose？〃 thought the prince。 〃If I were not so very hungry； I would soon show her what she is a regular old gossip and chatterbox。 She to fancy she talks little； indeed！ One must be very foolish not to know one's own defects。 This comes of being born a princess。 Flatterers have spoiled her and persuaded her that she talks little。 Little； indeed！ I never knew anybody chatter so much。〃
While the prince thus meditated； the servants were laying the table； the fairy asking them a hundred unnecessary questions； simply for the pleasure of hearing herself talk。 〃Well；〃 thought Wish； 〃I am delighted that I came hither； if only to learn how wise I have been in never listening to flatterers； who hide from us our faults； or make us believe they are perfections。 But they could never deceive me。 I know all my own weak points； I trust。〃 As truly he believed he did。
So he went on eating contentedly； nor stopped till the old fairy began to address him。
〃Prince；〃 said she； 〃will you be kind enough to turn a little？ Your nose casts such a shadow that I cannot see what is on my plate。 And； as I was saying； your father admired me and always made me welcome at court。 What is the court etiquette there now？ Do the ladies still go to assemblies； promenades； balls？I beg your pardon for laughing； but how very long your nose is。〃
〃I wish you would cease to speak of my nose；〃 said the prince； becoming annoyed。 〃It is what it is； and I do not desire it any shorter。〃
〃Oh！ I see that I have vexed you；〃 returned the fairy。 〃Nevertheless； I am one of your best friends； and so I shall take the liberty of always〃 She would doubtless have gone on talking till midnight； but the prince； unable to bear it any longer； here interrupted her； thanked her for her hospitality； bade her a hasty adieu； and rode away。
He traveled for a long time； half over the world； but he heard no news of Princess Darling。 However； in each place he went to； he heard one remarkable factthe great length of his own nose。 The little boys in the streets jeered at him； the peasants stared at him； and the more polite ladies and gentlemen whom he met in society used to try in vain to keep from laughing； and to get out of his way as soon as they could。 So the poor prince became gradually quite forlorn and solitary； he thought all the world was mad； but still he never thought of there being anything queer about his own nose。 At last the old fairy； who； though she was a chatterbox； was very good…natured； saw that he was almost breaking his heart。 She felt sorry for him and wished to help him in spite of himself； for she knew the enchantment which hid from him the Princess Darling could never be broken till he had discovered his own defect。 So she went in search of the princess； and being more powerful than the magician； since she was a good fairy and he was an evil magician； she got her away from him and shut her up in a palace of crystal； which she placed on the road which Prince Wish had to pass。
He was riding along； very melancholy； when he saw the palace； and at its entrance was a room； made of the purest glass； in which sat his beloved princess； smiling and beautiful as ever。 He leaped from his horse and ran toward her。 She held out her hand for him to kiss； but he could not get at it for the glass。 Transported with eagerness and delight； he dashed his sword through the crystal and succeeded in breaking a small opening； to which she put up her beautiful rosy mouth。 But it was in vain； Prince Wish could not approach it。 He twisted his neck about； and turned his head on all sides； till at length； putting up his hand to his face； he discovered the impediment。
〃It must be confessed；'t exclaimed he； 〃that my nose is too long。〃
That moment the glass walls all split asunder； and the old fairy appeared； leading Princess Darling。
〃Avow； prince；〃 said she； 〃that you are very much obliged to me； for now the enchantment is ended。 You may marry the object of your choice。 But；〃 added she； smiling； 〃I fear I might have talked to you forever on the subject of your nose； and you would not have believed me in its length； till it became an obstacle to your own inclinations。 Now behold it！〃 and she held up a crystal mirror。 〃Are you satisfied to be no different from other people？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 said Prince Wish； who found his nose had shrunk to an ordinary length。 And taking the Princess Darling by the hand； he kissed her courteously； affectionately； and satisfactorily。 Then they departed to their own country； and lived very happily all their days。
THE FROG…PRINCE
IN times of yore； when wishes were both heard and granted； lived a king whose daughters were all beautiful but the youngest was so lovely that the sun himself； who has seen so much； wondered at her beauty every time he looked in her face。 Now； near the king's castle was a large dark forest； and in the forest； under an old linden tree； was a deep well。 When the day was very hot； the king's daughter used to go to the wood and seat herself at the edge of the cool well； and when she became wearied； she would take a golden ball； throw it up in the air； and catch it again。 This was her favorite amusement。 Once it happened that her golden ball； instead of falling back into the little hand that she stretched out for it； dropped on the ground； and immediately rolled away into the water。 The king's daughter followed it with her eyes； but the ball had vanished； and the well was so deep that no one could see down to the bottom。 Then she began to weep； wept louder and louder every minute； and could not console herself at all。
While she was thus lamenting some one called to her： 〃What is the matter with you； king's daughter？ You weep so that you would touch the heart of a stone。〃
She looked around to see whence the voice came； and saw a frog stretching his thick ugly head out of the water。
〃Ah！ it is you； old water…paddler！〃 said she。 〃I am crying for my golden ball； which has fallen into the well。〃
〃Be content；〃 answered the frog； 〃I dare say I can give you some good advice； but what will you give me if I bring back your plaything to you？〃
〃Whatever you like； dear frog；〃 said she； 〃my clothes； my pearls and jewels； even the golden crown I wear。〃
The frog answered； 〃Your clothes； your pearls and jewels； even your golden crown； I do not care for； but if you will love me； and let me be your companion and play…fellow； sit near you at your little table； eat from your little golden plate； drink from your little cup； and sleep in your little bedif you will promise me this； then I will bring you back your golden ball from the bottom of the well。〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 said she； 〃I promise you every… thing； if you will only bring me back my golden ball。〃
She thought to herself； meanwhile： 〃What nonsense the silly frog talks！ He sits in the water with the other frogs； and croaks； and cannot be anybody's playfellow！〃
But the frog； as soon as he had received the promise dipped his head under the water and sank down。 In a little while up he came again with the ball in his mouth； and threw it on the grass。 The king's daughter was overjoyed when she beheld her pretty plaything again； picked it up； and ran away with it。
〃Wait！ wait！〃 cried the frog； 〃take me with you。 I cannot run as fast as you。〃
Alas！ of what use was it that he croaked after her as loud as he could。 She would not listen to him； but hastened home； and soon forgot the poor frog； who was obliged to plunge again to the bottom of his well。
The next day； when she was sitting at dinner with the king and all the courtiers； eating from her little gold plate； there came a sound of something creeping up the marble staircasesplish； splash； and when it had reached the top； it knocked at the door and cried； 〃Youngest king's daughter； open to me。〃
She ran； wishing to see who was outside； but when she opened the door and there sat the frog； she flung it hastily to again and sat down at table； feeling very； very uncomfortable。 The king saw that her heart was beating violently； and said； 〃How； my child； why are you afraid？ Is a giant standing outside the door to carry you off？〃
〃Oh； no！〃 answered she； 〃it is no giant； but a nasty frog； who yesterday； when I was playing in the wood near the well； fetched my golden ball out of the water。 For this I promised him he should be my companion； but I never thought he could come out of his well。 Now he is at the door； and wants to come in。〃
Again； the second time there was a knock； and a voice cried：
〃Youngest king's daughter； Open to me； Know you what yesterday You promised me； By the cool water？ Youngest king's daughter； Open to me。〃
Then said the king； 〃What you promised you must perform。 Go and open the door。〃
She went and opened the door； the frog hopped in； always following and following her till he came up to her chair。 There he sat and cried out； 〃Lift me up to you on the table。〃
She refused； till the king； her father； commanded her to do it。 When the frog was on the table； he said； 〃Now push your little golden plate nearer to me； that we may eat together。〃