The Strange Tale of the Snake Ring Read Online Free PDF Page B

of the kingdom to accept him as king, if he did not marry the eldest princess. Then he thought how he could help Gerda to bear the disappointment if he never returned to the farm. If he were king, he could send her money and fine clothes, even find a rich nobleman to be her husband.
    He fell into a long daydream about the pleasures of being a king. He could, he thought, do as he pleased in every way. There would be banquets, and dances, and entertainments of all kinds. There would be hunting the wild boar in the forests, and rewarding the winning knights in tournaments of jousting…
    â€œThomas! Thomas! Are you there?” Thomas was surprised by a voice calling his name, and a quiet, timid knock. He awoke from his daydream and opened his door. There stood the elder of the two young princesses. She had wrapped herself in a large shawl, which must have belonged to the queen.
    â€œI’m not really allowed in this part of the palace,” said Princess Rosa in an urgent whisper, “but I had to come and talk to you. I heard my father saying that you might be leaving, so I came to ask you to stay. Please stay, we shall miss you so much. Please promise me you’ll stay.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Your Highness, but I can’t make a promise that I may not be able to keep,” answered Thomas. “In many ways I want to stay, in other ways I feel I must go. But I promise to think very carefully about it. Now you must go, or we shall both be in trouble. The king ordered me not to speak to anyone about it.”
    The princess gathered her shawl more tightly around her, and without another word hurried away down the long echoing corridor towards the royal apartments.
    Thomas lay down once again on his bed. The princess’s visit had made it even harder to decide what to do. He had become very fond of both Rosa and her younger sister, and it would be hard to say goodbye to the two girls for ever.
    His daydream had passed, and would not return, no matter how hard he tried to recapture it. Instead of passing quietly into sleep, he tossed and turned on his bed while his thoughts became ever more confused and difficult. At last he fell into a deep but troubled sleep.
    In his dream, it seemed as though he was a young boy again. He was in the convent near his home, where kind Sister Agnes had taught him to read, in exchange for weeding the vegetable garden and feeding the carp in the convent fishponds. He seemed to be sitting on a stool by the nun’s side, looking at the book, which lay open on her lap. He could see the great decorated letter at the head of the page, but could not make out any of the writing. But he could hear the sister’s voice, saying softly but very clearly, “Remember, Thomas! Beware the kingdoms of this world, Thomas, and all their glory!”
    Thomas awoke with a start. It was quite dark, and he was shivering. He covered himself with his blankets and fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

Chapter 8
    Thomas Decides

    Early the next morning Thomas was awoken by one of the king’s valets who brought him a fine new suit of clothes.
    â€œThe king says, put on these clothes and wait for him to send a message. When he is ready to see you, go at once to the Throne Room,” announced the valet. “If you wish, I am to stay and help you to dress.”
    â€œThank you,” replied Thomas, “I should be very grateful for your help. I have never worn such fine clothes before.”
    When he was properly dressed in his new finery he sat on the edge of his bed waiting for the king’s message. He was now quite clear in his mind what he was going to reply to the king’s offer.
    When Thomas entered the Throne Room, the king looked at him with a very stern expression.
    â€œWell, Thomas, what is it to be? Do you stay and learn to be a king, or will you go and marry your farm girl – and be a peasant as you were before?”
    â€œMay it please Your