ney. Without
losing a moment she ran with it to Fanfaronade, crying gaily:

'See, here is a honeycomb that I have found. I might have eaten it up
all by myself, but I had rather share it with you.'

But without looking at her or thanking her he snatched the honey comb
out of her hands and ate it all up--every bit, without offering her a
morsel. Indeed, when she humbly asked for some he said mockingly that it
was too sweet for her, and would spoil her teeth.

Mayblossom, more downcast than ever, went sadly away and sat down under
an oak tree, and her tears and sighs were so piteous that the oak fanned
her with his rustling leaves, and said:

'Take courage, pretty Princess, all is not lost yet. Take this pitcher
of milk and drink it up, and whatever you do, don't leave a drop for
Fanfaronade.'

The Princess, quite astonished, looked round, and saw a big pitcher full
of milk, but before she could raise it to her lips the thought of how
thirsty Fanfaronade must be, after eating at least fifteen pounds of
honey, made her run back to him and say:

'Here is a pitcher of milk; drink some, for you must be thirsty I
am sure; but pray save a little for me, as I am dying of hunger and
thirst.'

But he seized the pitcher and drank all it contained at a single
draught, and then broke it to atoms on the nearest stone, saying with a
malicious smile: 'As you have not eaten anything you cannot be thirsty.'

'Ah!' cried the Princess, 'I am well punished for disappointing the
King and Queen, and running away with this Ambassador about whom I knew
nothing.'

And so saying she wandered away into the thickest part of the wood, and
sat down under a thorn tree, where a nightingale was singing. Presently
she heard him say: 'Search under the bush Princess; you will find some
sugar, almonds, and some tarts there But don't be silly enough to offer
Fanfaronade any.' And this time the Princess, who was fainting with
hunger, took the nightingale's advice, and ate what she found all by
herself. But Fanfaronade, seeing that she had found something good, and
was not going to share it with him, ran after her in such a fury that
she hastily drew out the Queen's carbuncle, which had the property of
rendering people invisible if they were in danger, and when she was
safely hidden from him she reproached him gently for his unkindness.

Meanwhile Admiral Cocked-Hat had despatched
Jack-the-Chatterer-of-the-Straw-Boots, Courier in Ordinary to the Pri