“He went about fighting other people’s battles, helping the poor, and trying to do good.  But he lacked judgment, so he often got into trouble, and was in such a hurry that he did not always stop to find out the wisest way.  As when he gave away his best coat to a beggar boy, instead of the old one which he intended to give.”

“I say, that isn’t fair, mother!  Neither of them was new, and the boy needed the best more than I did, and I wore the old one all winter, didn’t I?” asked Jack, who had rather exulted over Frank, and was now taken down himself.

“Yes, you did, my dear; and it was not an easy thing for my dandiprat to do.  Now listen, and I’ll tell you how they both learned to be wiser.  The elder prince soon found that the big dragons were too much for him, and set about training his own little one, who now and then ran away with him.  Its name was Will, a good servant, but a bad master; so he learned to control it, and in time this gave him great power over himself, and fitted him to be a king over others.”

“Thank you, mother; I’ll remember my part of the moral.  Now give Jack his,” said Frank, who liked the dragon episode, as he had been wrestling with his own of late, and found it hard to manage.

“He had a fine example before him in a friend, and he followed it more reasonably till he grew able to use wisely one of the best and noblest gifts of God—­benevolence.”

“Now tell about the girl.  Was there more to that part of the story?” asked Jack, well pleased with his moral, as it took Ed in likewise.

“That is the best of all, but it seems as if I never should get to it.  After Patience made Lucy sweet and cheerful, she began to have a curious power over those about her, and to work little miracles herself, though she did not know it.  The queen learned to love her so dearly she could not let her go; she cheered up all her friends when they came with their small troubles; the princes found bright eyes, willing hands, and a kind heart always at their service, and felt, without quite knowing why, that it was good for them to have a gentle little creature to care for; so they softened their rough manners, loud voices, and careless ways, for her sake, and when it was proposed to take her away to her own home they could not give her up, but said she must stay longer, didn’t they?”

“I’d like to see them saying anything else,” said Frank, while Jack sat up to demand fiercely,—­

“Who talks about taking Jill away?”

“Lucy’s mother thought she ought to go, and said so, but the queen told her how much good it did them all to have her there, and begged the dear woman to let her little cottage and come and be housekeeper in the palace, for the queen was getting lazy, and liked to sit and read, and talk and sew with Lucy, better than to look after things.”

“And she said she would?” cried Jill, clasping her hands in her anxiety, for she had learned to love her cage now.