Collectanea.
329
Water of Life. So he took the glass, and drank some of the Water of Life, and felt at once that he had more life in him than anybody. After this, the Pride-of-the-World gave him some Water of Beauty to drink. He had it, and then looked in a glass, and saw that he had become most beautiful.
"Some more ^^'ater of Beauty?" asked the Pride-of-the-World.
" Please," said the Emperor, and she gave him the Water of Death instead.
The F2mperor drank, and died !
" I wasn't going to live with you ! " then said the Pride-of-the- World, " I'm going to live with the one that brought me here ! "
She went to Peter, and put her arms round him. They kissed, and they married, and Peter became Emperor.
Now, I want you to know that I was asked to the wedding dinner, and no one was so gay as Peter.
Aiei ! But I'll tell you something ; the wine was so nice that I drank rather well, and now I'm sleepy, and I'm going to bed, so good-night.
Now, while I sleep, you tell me a story, and when I wake up in the morning, I'll tell you another one again. . . .
{To be continued.)
