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plump and tall。 She reached the age of seventeen； without having fallen
into any worse scrape than a chimney； by rescuing her from which； a little
bird…nesting urchin got fame and a black face。 Nor； thoughtless as she was；
had she committed anything worse than laughter at everybody and
everything that came in her way。 When she was told； for the sake of
experiment； that General Clanrunfort was cut to pieces with all his troops；
she laughed； when she heard that the enemy was on his way to besiege her
papa's capital； she laughed hugely； but when she was told that the city
would certainly be abandoned to the mercy of the enemy's soldierywhy；
then she laughed immoderately。 She never could be brought to see the
serious side of anything。 When her mother cried； she said；
〃What queer faces mamma makes！ And she squeezes water out of
her cheeks？ Funny mamma！〃
And when her papa stormed at her； she laughed； and danced round and
round him； clapping her hands； and crying
〃Do it again； papa。 Do it again！ It's SUCH fun！ Dear； funny
papa！〃
And if he tried to catch her； she glided from him in an instant； not in
the least afraid of him； but thinking it part of the game not to be caught。
With one push of her foot； she would be floating in the air above his head；
or she would go dancing backwards and forwards and sideways； like a
great butterfly。 It happened several times； when her father and mother
were holding a consultation about her in private； that they were interrupted
by vainly repressed outbursts of laughter over their heads； and looking up
with indignation； saw her floating at full length in the air above them；
whence she regarded them with the most comical appreciation of the
position。
One day an awkward accident happened。 The princess had come out
upon the lawn with one of her attendants； who held her by the hand。
Spying her father at the other side of the lawn； she snatched her hand from
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the maid's； and sped across to him。 Now when she wanted to run alone；
her custom was to catch up a stone in each hand； so that she might come
down again after a bound。 Whatever she wore as part of her attire had no
effect in this way： even gold； when it thus became as it were a part of
herself； lost all its weight for the time。 But whatever she only held in her
hands retained its downward tendency。 On this occasion she could see
nothing to catch up but a huge toad； that was walking across the lawn as if
he had a hundred years to do it in。 Not knowing what disgust meant； for
this was one of her peculiarities； she snatched up the toad and bounded
away。 She had almost reached her father； and he was holding out his
arms to receive her； and take from her lips the kiss which hovered on them
like a butterfly on a rosebud； when a puff of wind blew her aside into the
arms of a young page； who had just been receiving a message from his
Majesty。 Now it was no great peculiarity in the princess that； once she
was set agoing； it always cost her time and trouble to check herself。 On
this occasion there was no time。 She must kiss…and she kissed the page。
She did not mind it much； for she had no shyness in her composition； and
she knew； besides； that she could not help it。 So she only laughed； like a
musical box。 The poor page fared the worst。 For the princess； trying to
correct the unfortunate tendency of the kiss； put out her hands to keep her
off the page； so that； along with the kiss； he received； on the other cheek； a
slap with the huge black toad； which she poked right into his eye。 He
tried to laugh； too； but the attempt resulted in such an odd contortion of
countenance； as showed that there was no danger of his pluming himself
on the kiss。 As for the king； his dignity was greatly hurt； and he did not
speak to the page for a whole month。
I may here remark that it was very amusing to see her run； if her mode
of progression could properly be called running。 For first she would
make a bound； then； having alighted； she would run a few steps； and make
another bound。 Sometimes she would fancy she had reached the ground
before she actually had； and her feet would go backwards and forwards；
running upon nothing at all； like those of a chicken on its back。 Then she
would laugh like the very spirit of fun； only in her laugh there was
something missing。 What it was； I find myself unable to describe。 I
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THE LIGHT PRINCESS
think it was a certain tone； depending upon the possibility of sorrow
MORBIDEZZA； perhaps。 She never smiled。
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7。 Try Metaphysics。
After a long avoidance of the painful subject； the king and queen
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。〃