made up the fire so
hot that it was grilling.

'It is hot in here, isn't it!' said the suitor.

'Of course it is!' My father is roasting young chickens to-day!' said
the Princess.

'Ahem!' There he stood like an idiot. He was not prepared for such a
speech; he did not know what to say, although he wanted to say
something witty. 'Ahem!'

'It doesn't matter!' said the Princess. 'Take him out!' and out he had
to go.

Now the other brother entered.

'How hot it is!' he said.

'Of course! We are roasting young chickens to-day!' remarked the
Princess.

'How do you--um!' he said, and the reporters wrote down. 'How do
you--um.'

'It doesn't matter!' said the Princess. 'Take him out!'

Now Blockhead-Hans came in; he rode his goat right into the hall.

'I say! How roasting hot it is here!' said he.

'Of course! I am roasting young chickens to-day!' said the Princess.

'That's good!' replied Blockhead-Hans; 'then can I roast a crow with
them?'

'With the greatest of pleasure!' said the Princess; 'but have you
anything you can roast them in? for I have neither pot nor saucepan.'

[Illustration: The Reporters giggled & each
dropped a blot of ink on the floor

Then I will give the Editor the best! said Blockhead-Hans

That was neatly done! said the Princess]

'Oh, rather!' said Blockhead-Hans. 'Here is a cooking implement with
tin rings,' and he drew out the old wooden shoe, and laid the crow in
it.

'That is quite a meal!' said the Princess; 'but where shall we get the
soup from?'

'I've got that in my pocket!' said Blockhead-Hans. 'I have so much
that I can quite well throw some away!' and he poured some mud out of
his pocket.

'I like you!' said the Princess. 'You can answer, and you can speak,
and I will marry you; but do you know that every word which we are
saying and have said has been taken down and will be in the paper
to-morrow? By each window do you see there are standing three
reporters and an old editor, and this old editor is the worst, for he
doesn't understand anything!' but she only said this to tease
Blockhead-Hans. And the reporters giggled, and each dropped a blot of
ink on the floor.

'Ah! are those the great people?' said Blockhead-Hans. 'Then I will
give the editor the best!' So saying, he turned his pockets inside
out, and threw the mud right in his face.

'That was neatly done!' said the Princess. 'I couldn't have done it;
but I will soon learn how to!'

Blockhead-Hans beca