ing born; there's no chance for
protest, eh, Bilbil?"

"Who is telling this story, I'd like to know," demanded the goat, with
anger.

"Ask someone with brains, my boy; I'm sure I can't tell," replied the
King, bursting into one of his merry fits of laughter.

Bilbil rose to his hoofs and walked away in a dignified manner, leaving
Rinkitink chuckling anew at the sour expression of the animal's face.

"Oh, Bilbil, you'll be the death of me, some day--I'm sure you will!"
gasped the King, taking out his lace handkerchief to wipe his eyes;
for, as he often did, he had laughed till the tears came.

Bilbil was deeply vexed and would not even turn his head to look at his
master. To escape from Rinkitink he wandered among the ruins of the
palace, where he came upon Prince Inga.

"Good morning, Bilbil," said the boy. "I was just going to find you,
that I might consult you upon an important matter. If you will kindly
turn back with me I am sure your good judgment will be of great
assistance."

The angry goat was quite mollified by the respectful tone in which he
was addressed, but he immediately asked:

"Are you also going to consult that empty-headed King over yonder?"

"I am sorry to hear you speak of your kind master in such a way," said
the boy gravely. "All men are deserving of respect, being the highest
of living creatures, and Kings deserve respect more than others, for
they are set to rule over many people."

"Nevertheless," said Bilbil with conviction, "Rinkitink's head is
certainly empty of brains."

"That I am unwilling to believe," insisted Inga. "But anyway his heart
is kind and gentle and that is better than being wise. He is merry in
spite of misfortunes that would cause others to weep and he never
speaks harsh words that wound the feelings of his friends."

"Still," growled Bilbil, "he is--"

"Let us forget everything but his good nature, which puts new heart
into us when we are sad," advised the boy.

"But he is--"

"Come with me, please," interrupted Inga, "for the matter of which I
wish to speak is very important."

Bilbil followed him, although the boy still heard the goat muttering
that the King had no brains. Rinkitink, seeing them turn into the
ruins, also followed, and upon joining them asked for his breakfast.

Inga opened the sack of food and while he and the King ate of it the
boy said:

"If I could find a way to remove some of the blocks of marble which
have fallen in the banquet