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The Griffin quite forgot to thank the Fat Frog； he was a Griffin of NO
manners； but he didn't forget to take the packet。 It was labelled
'Reckitt's；' and when he put it in the water all the water turned bright blue。
Then he took the pail in his claw； flew to the castle； shut his eyes and
poured some of the contents of the pail over the cats in the courtyard。
When he opened his eyes there were twenty…seven bright blue； damp；
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depressed cats； and he passed them without any difficulty。 He shut his
eyes； wriggled up the stairs； poured the remaining mixture over the
seventeen cats； who all turned as blue as the rest； and then he burst open
the door of the Princess's room。 Fortunately there was a kind Fairy
flying over the castle at that very moment； who； seeing what was
happening； changed the Princess into a flea so that the Dreadful Griffin
couldn't see her anywhere。
No； if I couldn't tell you before； I certainly must not attempt now to
describe the Griffin's behaviour when he found the Princess thus snatched
from his jaws。 He went grunting and bellowing and screaming along；
and just as he was stopping to take breath he heard someone roaring with
laughter； and saw a little yellow man sitting on the top bough of a tree。
〃Are you laughing at ME？〃 said the Dreadful Griffin （he was so angry
that he was quite polite）。 And the little man said quite as politely that he
certainly WAS。
〃Why？〃 said the Dreadful Griffin； still fearfully polite。
〃Because you're such a green Griffin；〃 said the yellow man； and he
screamed with laughter again … 〃I know all about it； you've blued the cats
and now the Princess has greened you。 She's turned into a flea； and you
still want to eat her； and it never occurred to you； you green old grampus
of a Griffin； that fleas like CATS。 I suppose the Princess flea wouldn't
jump on to a tabby kitten； and you couldn't swallow the kitten … oh dear； no
… of course not 。 。 。 。〃
But the Griffin was gone。 He went to the Zoo； found a tabby kitten；
though they are rare in that country； and flew back with it to the Princess's
room。
He waited half an hour and then swallowed the kitten at one gulp； but
he instantly burst in four pieces； for the fluffy kitten tickled his digestive
organs so much that they cracked his sides and he died； and the flea and
the kitten came out quite unhurt； only a little damp。
Then a wonderful thing happened。 The tabby kitten changed into the
little yellow man who had laughed at the Griffin。 He grew； and grew； and
in a few minutes he was a handsome prince。 His name was Prince
Orange Plushikins。 One day a cruel witch whom he had offended had
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The Grey Brethren
changed him into an ugly yellow man； and had sworn that he should only
regain his shape if he was eaten by a Griffin when under the form of a
tabby kitten； which you know was precisely what happened。 Well；
Prince Orange Plushikins at once asked the Princess flea to marry him；
and the minute the flea said 〃Yes；〃 the Princess reappeared。 She and the
Prince were married next morning； and all the cats went to the steam
laundry and were washed and bleached and had their tails crimped and
their whiskers starched； and they danced at the wedding； and everybody
lived happily ever after。
The Discontented Daffodils。
THEY had the very loveliest home you can imagine； with beautiful
soft moss and grass to grow in； trees to form a cosy shelter from the wind；
and a dear little babbling stream to water them。
There were lots of daffodils in this pretty place； and nobody ever
discovered the nook to gather them。 They rejoiced in the spring sunshine
and gentle breezes； the greeting of the birds； and the musical chatter of the
brook； then when their brief visit to the upper world was over they nestled
happily down in their warm mossy beds and slept till April came again to
wake them。
A little apart from the rest were four daffodils growing at the root of a
gnarled oak tree； and one fine sunshiny morning three of them took it into
their silly little heads that they were dull； the place was dull； the other
daffodils were dull； and they wanted a change。
It was mainly the fault of the cuckoo； for he was a grumbling；
mischief…making bird and used to spend a good deal of time talking to the
daffodils。 This particular spring he had taken up his abode in the oak tree；
and was fond of talking of all the grand things he had seen； and a great
many he had not seen； for the cuckoo is a bird of fine imagination； and at
last； as I have already said； three of the daffodils made up their minds that
to be a flower and live in a wood was a very dreadful thing； and not to be
put up with any longer。
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Now the cuckoo had told many strange tales about creatures with two
legs and beautiful coloured leaves which grew in an odd way； and feathers
only on their heads。 They could not fly； but they could run about from
place to place； and dance and sing； and at last the daffodils decided that
they wished to be like these curious creatures； which the cuckoo called
GIRLS。
Then there were sad times in that sweet little nook under the oak tree。
The naughty daffodils cried and quarrelled and bewailed their lot all
day long； till they made themselves and everybody else extremely
wretched。 Their little sister shook her head at them； and scolded and said
that for her part she was not meant to have legs； but it was all no use； the
daffodils would not be quiet。
One day the Fairy Visitor who looked after the flowers in that part
heard the silly blossoms crying； and stopped to ask what was the matter。
When she heard the story she told them they were very foolish and
discontented； and that the cuckoo was a most mischievous bird and liked
to get people into trouble； but