s for
the most trifling offences he would have their heads cut off. This King
Grumpy, as he was called, had one son, who was as different from his
father as he could possibly be. No prince equalled him in cleverness and
kindness of heart, but unfortunately he was most terribly ugly. He had
crooked legs and squinting eyes, a large mouth all on one side, and a
hunchback. Never was there a beautiful soul in such a frightful little
body, but in spite of his appearance everybody loved him. The Queen, his
mother, called him Curlicue, because it was a name she rather liked, and
it seemed to suit him.

King Grumpy, who cared a great deal more for his own grandeur than for
his son's happiness, wished to betroth the Prince to the daughter of a
neighbouring King, whose great estates joined his own, for he thought
that this alliance would make him more powerful than ever, and as for
the Princess she would do very well for Prince Curlicue, for she was as
ugly as himself. Indeed, though she was the most amiable creature in the
world, there was no concealing the fact that she was frightful, and so
lame that she always went about with a crutch, and people called her
Princess Cabbage-Stalk.

The King, having asked for and received a portrait of this Princess,
had it placed in his great hall under a canopy, and sent for Prince
Curlicue, to whom he said that as this was the portrait of his future
bride, he hoped the Prince found it charming.

The Prince after one glance at it turned away with a disdainful air,
which greatly offended his father.

'Am I to understand that you are not pleased?' he said very sharply.

'No, sire,' replied the Prince. 'How could I be pleased to marry an
ugly, lame Princess?'

'Certainly it is becoming in YOU to object to that,' said King Grumpy,
'since you are ugly enough to frighten anyone yourself.'

'That is the very reason,' said the Prince, 'that I wish to marry
someone who is not ugly. I am quite tired enough of seeing myself.'

'I tell you that you shall marry her,' cried King Grumpy angrily.

And the Prince, seeing that it was of no use to remonstrate, bowed and
retired.

As King Grumpy was not used to being contradicted in anything, he
was very much displeased with his son, and ordered that he should be
imprisoned in the tower that was kept on purpose for rebellious Princes,
but had not been used for about two hundred years, because there had
not been any. The Prince thought all the rooms l