"It"s not as bad as it might be. It still looks like a nose!"
"Does it?" she sobbed.
"Oh yes," said the doctor, turning to Puss and the old retainer. "You"ll hardly know the blackbird touched it after I get through."
"Maybe he only pinched it," said Puss.
"Or only tweaked it," said the old retainer.
"Perhaps he thought it was a cherry," laughed the doctor, putting on some powder.
And then the maid began to smile. "It feels much better already," she said.
"Well it"s always a good thing to call in the doctor," said the learned man. "You never can tell what may happen," and, picking up his little black bag, he held out his hand. "Two shillings, please!"
"Mercy me!" she cried. "I haven"t had my wages for this month."
"What did you do with last month"s?" asked the doctor, but before she could reply one of the four and twenty blackbirds dropped a gold piece in his hand. I guess he felt dreadfully ashamed to think that one of his brothers had pinched a pretty girl"s nose.
A MISCOUNT
THE King was in his counting-house, Counting out his money; The Queen was in the parlor, Eating bread and honey.
And now let us see where little Puss, Junior, was. Oh yes, I remember now. He was in the garden of the Blackbird-pie Castle, where the poor maid"s nose had been nipped by a naughty, bad blackbird. Well, after the good Doctor had gone, the old retainer took Puss to see the King, who was so busy counting his money that he didn"t even look up.
"Your Worship," began the retainer.
"What do you want?" asked the King, angrily. "I"ve just counted up to three trillion two hundred and thirty-seven billion, nine hundred and forty-eight million, seven hundred and fifteen thousand, four hundred and--and--now you"ve gone and made me miss, and I"ll have to count all over again."
"Start off at four hundred. A few sovereigns less won"t matter to a king," said little Puss, Junior.
"I"m not so sure about that," replied His Majesty, taking off his crown and scratching his head. "One likes to be right as well as King!"
"n.o.body said, my lord!" cried the old retainer. "But consider your health. Let"s take this wise cat"s suggestion and quit for the time being."
"All right," said the King. "Let"s go find the Queen."
She was in the parlor eating bread and honey. "How do you do, my dear Puss, Junior?" she cried.
"I am very well, thank Your Majesty," he replied.
"I have just heard what valuable a.s.sistance you have rendered our court," continued the Queen.
Puss would have blushed had not his cheeks been covered with whiskers.
"I did but do my duty, Your Majesty," he replied.
"What"s that?" asked the King.
"Did you not hear, my lord?" cried the Queen. "Our maid had her nose bitten by a naughty blackbird, and our little friend here quickly fetched the Doctor, bringing him on his Good Gray Horse in short time."
"Indeed!" exclaimed His Majesty. "I will reward him. He shall have a castle and a retinue."
"Your Royal Highness," exclaimed Puss, Junior, "I am overwhelmed with your generosity, but I needs must decline your offer. For until I find my father, the famous Puss in Boots, I may not rest upon my journey except for sleep and refreshment."
[Ill.u.s.tration]
"Zounds!" exclaimed the King. "You are a gallant cat. Would that all my subjects were as faithful to their duty as you are! But," he added, with a smile, "you shall rest here for the night, for a good dinner and a sound sleep will make you travel the faster on the morrow."
The Queen by this time had finished her bread and honey.
"Come out on the terrace," she suggested, "for it is cool and pleasant there, and the flowers are very beautiful. I would show Sir Cat our flower garden."
The King, therefore, gave his arm to the Queen and Puss gallantly held up her train, the three walking slowly out upon the broad terrace. The sun was quite low in the sky, for it was late in the afternoon. The big hills to the westward seemed to hold up the sky, and Puss wondered whether the jolly old sun would not b.u.mp himself as he slid down over the edge of the world.
"Come, Puss dear, take my hand," said the Queen. She then went over and sat down on a marble bench. Picking up Puss, she held him in her arms and commenced to sing, and presently he fell fast asleep. The Queen looked up at the King and said, "Is he not a dear little cat?" and the King for answer took from his purse several gold pieces and tucked them away in Puss, Junior"s, pocket.
PLUM PUDDING STORY
WHEN Puss, Junior, awoke from his nap he was surprised to find himself in the Queen"s lap. It was growing dark and for a moment he wondered where he was. "Don"t ask where you are, my dear Puss," laughed the Queen, "for you are safe and well."
"Your Majesty," said Puss, rubbing his eyes, "I was also very comfortable. Pardon me for dropping off to sleep in your presence."
Just then a page appeared and announced that dinner was served. The King arose and offered his arm to the Queen, Puss following quietly after. As he stepped down the great stairway to the royal dining room he heard some one singing in a deep voice:
"When good King Arthur ruled this land, He was a goodly King; He stole three pecks of barley meal To make a bag pudding.
"A bag pudding the King did make And stuffed it well with plums, And in it put great lumps of fat As big as my two thumbs.
"The King and Queen did eat thereof, And n.o.blemen beside; And what they could not eat that night The Queen next morning fried."
"Plum pudding!" said Puss to himself. "That sounds pretty nice," and he followed the King and Queen into the great dining hall. Many n.o.blemen were present and the table was a most gorgeous affair. Silver tankards and wonderful gold dishes gleamed in the candlelight. Puss was very much impressed and behaved beautifully. And when the plum pudding came on the table the same deep voice began to sing:
"And what they could not eat that night The Queen next morning fried."
"Puss," said the Queen in a whisper, "let"s finish the pudding between us! I know you"d like some more, and so would I. Moreover," she added in a still lower whisper, "I don"t intend getting up early to-morrow morning to fry what"s left over--so let us finish it to-night."
Presently the court fool came running in, his fool"s cap all ajingle with bells. He capered about, swinging up and down a little stick which was also covered with tiny bells. These were silver, and the ones in his cap were of gold, so that the sound was very sweet.
The next morning Puss mounted his Good Gray Horse and rode away, and after a while he came to a great mound of earth in which was a little wooden door on leather hinges.