All the first day he learned the lessons he had set
himself, and the people learned theirs too, and they all came to Gentil
in the evening to say them to the Prince. But by the time Gentil had
heard all the lessons, he was very, very tired,--so tired that he
tumbled asleep on the throne; and when the child-people saw their
prince was asleep, they thought they might as well go to sleep too. And
when Gentil awoke, the next morning, behold! there were all his people
asleep on the floor. And he looked at his watch and found it was very
late, and he woke up the people, crying, with a very loud voice,--
"It is very late, good people!"
And the people jumped up, and rubbed their eyes, and cried,--
"We have been learning always, and we can no longer see to read,--the
letters dance before our eyes."
And all the child-people groaned, and cried very bitterly behind their
books. Then Gentil said,--
"I will read to you, my people, and that will rest your eyes."
And he read them a delightful story about animals; but when he stopped
to show them a picture of a lion, the people were all asleep. Then
Gentil grew angry, and cried in a loud voice,--
"Wake up, idle people, and listen!"
But when the people woke up, they were stupid, and sat like cats and
sulked.
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