Page:The Floating Prince - Frank R Stockton.djvu/109

94 a poor one. He proposed that they should all three go to the Prince, and lay the matter before him, in person. It was often much better to do things in this way than to write letters.

This proposition was agreed to, and the next day the three, accompanied by little Volma, proceeded to the Prince's palace. They were admitted, and the Prince gave them an audience. They found him on his throne, in a magnificent and spacious hall; and, as it happened to be a holiday, the little prince was sitting on a cushion by the side of his father's throne.

The Prince requested them to make known their business, and the Gudra, drawing himself up as tall as possible, began to state what he wanted, and how dissatisfied he was with the answer to his letter. During this speech, the little prince beckoned to Volma, and, moving to one side, made room for her on his cushion. So she sat down beside him, and they soon began to talk to each other, but in a very low tone.

"You, then," said the Prince, addressing the Gudra, when he had finished, "are a giant dwarf, and you," turning to his companions, "are a dwarf giant and an ordinary man?"

The three assented.

"Well," continued the Prince, with a smile, "I really do not see very much difference between you. I have heard the giant dwarf. Now, I would like to know what this dwarf giant and the ordinary man have to say."

The Dwarf Giant said that, of course, the prince had a good right to decide who should go to the school he had himself founded, and who should not go. But he thought it would be doing a very great favor to the Gudra, and especially to the Gudra's daughter,—who, in his eyes, was a very charming little girl,—if the Prince would allow her to study with his son. He put the matter entirely on this ground.