第13章

HOW GRUFFANUFF PICKED THE FAIRY RING UP, AND PRINCE BULBOCAME TO COURT

Prince Bulbo's arrival had set all the court in a flutter:

everybody was ordered to put his or her best clothes on: the footmen had their gala liveries; the Lord Chancellor his new wig;the Guards their last new tunics; and Countess Gruffanuff, you may be sure, was glad of an opportunity of decorating HER old person with her finest things.She was walking through the court of the Palace on her way to wait upon Their Majesties, when she espied something glittering on the pavement, and bade the boy in buttons who was holding up her train, to go and pick up the article shining yonder.He was an ugly little wretch, in some of the late groom-porter's old clothes cut down, and much too tight for him; and yet, when he had taken up the ring (as it turned out to be), and was carrying it to his mistress, she thought he looked like a little cupid.He gave the ring to her; it was a trumpery little thing enough, but too small for any of her old knuckles, so she put it into her pocket.

'Oh, mum!' says the boy, looking at her 'how--how beyoutiful you do look, mum, today, mum!'

'And you, too, Jacky,' she was going to say; but, looking down at him--no, he was no longer good-looking at all--but only the carroty-haired little Jacky of the morning.However, praise is welcome from the ugliest of men or boys, and Gruffanuff, bidding the boy hold up her train, walked on in high good-humour.The guards saluted her with peculiar respect.Captain Hedzoff, in the anteroom, said, 'My dear madam, you look like an angel today.' And so, bowing and smirking, Gruffanuff went in and took her place behind her Royal Master and Mistress, who were in the throne-room, awaiting the Prince of Crim Tartary.Princess Angelica sat at their feet, and behind the King's chair stood Prince Giglio, looking very savage.

The Prince of Crim Tartary made his appearance, attended by Baron Sleibootz, his chamberlain, and followed by a black page carrying the most beautiful crown you ever saw! He was dressed in his travelling costume, and his hair, as you see, was a little in disorder.'I have ridden three hundred miles since breakfast,'

said he, 'so eager was I to behold the Prin--the Court and august family of Paflagonia, and I could not wait one minute before appearing in Your Majesties' presences.'

Giglio, from behind the throne, burst out into a roar of contemptuous laughter; but all the Royal party, in fact, were so flurried, that they did not hear this little outbreak.'Your R.

H.is welcome in any dress,' says the King.'Glumboso, a chair for His Royal Highness.'

'Any dress His Royal Highness wears IS a Court dress,' says Princess Angelica, smiling graciously.

'Ah! but you should see my other clothes,' said the Prince.'Ishould have had them on, but that stupid carrier has not brought them.Who's that laughing?'

It was Giglio laughing.'I was laughing,' he said, 'because you said just now that you were in such a hurry to see the Princess, that you could not wait to change your dress; and now you say you come in those clothes because you have no others.'

'And who are you?' says Prince Bulbo, very fiercely.

'My father was King of this country, and I am his only son, Prince!' replies Giglio, with equal haughtiness.

'Ha!' said the King and Glumboso, looking very flurried; but the former, collecting himself, said, 'Dear Prince Bulbo, I forgot to introduce to Your Royal Highness my dear nephew, His Royal Highness Prince Giglio! Know each other! Embrace each other!

Giglio, give His Royal Highness your hand!' and Giglio, giving his hand, squeezed poor Bulbo's until the tears ran out of his eyes.Glumboso now brought a chair for the Royal visitor, and placed it on the platform on which the King, Queen, and Prince were seated; but the chair was on the edge of the platform, and as Bulbo sat down, it toppled over, and he with it, rolling over and over, and bellowing like a bull.Giglio roared still louder at this disaster, but it was with laughter; so did all the Court when Prince Bulbo got up; for though when he entered the room he appeared not very ridiculous, as he stood up from his fall for a moment he looked so exceedingly plain and foolish, that nobody could help laughing at him.When he had entered the room, he was observed to carry a rose in his hand, which fell out of it as he tumbled.

'My rose! my rose!' cried Bulbo; and his chamberlain dashed forwards and picked it up, and gave it to the Prince, who put it in his waistcoat.Then people wondered why they had laughed;there was nothing particularly ridiculous in him.He was rather short, rather stout, rather red-haired, but, in fine, for a Prince, not so bad.

So they sat and talked, the Royal personages together, the Crim Tartar officers with those of Paflagonia--Giglio very comfortable with Gruffanuff behind the throne.He looked at her with such tender eyes, that her heart was all in a flutter.'Oh, dear Prince,' she said, 'how could you speak so haughtily in presence of Their Majesties? I protest I thought I should have fainted.'

'I should have caught you in my arms,' said Giglio, looking raptures.

'Why were you so cruel to Prince Bulbo, dear Prince?' says Gruff.

'Because I hate him,' says Gil.

'You are jealous of him, and still love poor Angelica,' cries Gruffanuff, putting her handkerchief to her eyes.

'I did, but I love her no more!' Giglio cried.'I despise her!