looking out, he saw a butterfly sunning herself on a piece of lady-grass. Quickly springing on her back, he thought to make her rise into the air, and bear him over the walls, so that he might return home; but the butterfly fluttered hither and thither, up and down, over trees and fields, till the sun began to set, and Tom feared that he should again be the sport of Puck.

Presently the lights were lit in the hall, when no sooner did the butterfly see them, than she flew in by the window, and made straight for the great wax candle, so that Tom thought soon to meet his death by the hot wax; but he threw himself off in time, while the foolish butterfly singed her own wings.

39

Queen Guenever was playing at chess with the Lady Bienpensante, wife to the Knight Cotte-Mal-Taillé, when Tom Thumb presented himself in the square of the King's pawn,

and made his obeisance.

Guenever was enchanted to see him again, and so were all the ladies. They caused him to repose on a velvet pin-cushion, and made him declare all his adventures, applauding greatly his courage, after which the Queen promised to obtain his pardon from the King, and laid him to rest, for the night, in her ivory casket.

In the morning, Tom found the King and Queen breaking their fast together, and as he stood beside the King's tankard, he told his tale, and the Queen asked grace for him, which the good King readily granted.

Now," said Queen Guenever, "my dainty page, you shall

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