t he was ten years old, and that crying was therefore
out of the question. The grasshopper was winking at him as though he
understood how he felt.

"I guessed you would come," he said, in a kind voice. "I just waited
on purpose."

"Where has she gone?" asked Prince Perfection, dolefully.

"Ask me something easier than that," answered the grasshopper. "I
didn't see her go. I happened to look in as I was passing; and when I
found she was gone I thought I'd just wait and tell you she was gone,
don't you see?"

"What is the good of waiting to tell me something I could have found
out for myself?" asked Prince Perfection. "If you can't help me to
find her, you might just as well not be there."

"I didn't say I couldn't help you to find her," said the grasshopper,
looking hurt; "though if you are going to be cross about it I don't
know that I will."

"Oh," cried Prince Perfection, "I will never be cross again, if you
will help me to find the Lady Emmelina."

"Then why did you hide her in the first place?" asked the grasshopper.
The Prince looked foolish.

"Because I had no one to play with," he said.

"If you do find her," continued the grasshopper, "do you think the
Princess will play with you again?"

"Oh, no," sighed the Prince. "She will only want to play with the Lady
Emmelina."

"Then don't try to find the Lady Emmelina," said the grasshopper,
promptly.

"I must," said Prince Perfection. "Anything is better than seeing the
Princess cry. I took her doll away, you see, and it is my fault that
Pansy is so unhappy. I don't mean to go home again until I have found
the Lady Emmelina."

"Right you are," said the grasshopper. "You're the man for me. I'll
help you as far as I can, but you must come down here first; I can't go
on shouting like this."

"Down there?" said the Prince. "The hole is much too small."

"Nonsense! Come and try," said the grasshopper, and indeed, before he
tried at all, the Prince found himself inside the neat round hole, with
the mossy walls reaching far above his head, and the grasshopper
shaking hands with him.

"Feel all right?" asked the grasshopper. "Sit down and get your
breath. These sudden changes are apt to be exhausting if you are not
used to them."

"Are you used to them?" asked the Prince, when he had recovered enough
breath to speak.

"Dear me, yes!" said the grasshopper with a chuckle. "When I get up in
the morning I never know how many changes I may