You are well aware that his gratification comes purely from the pleasure of sacrificing himself to the public good.
Does it not, Harelip ?' 'Yes, father; of course it does.

Only it will be nice to make her cry.
I'll have the skin taken off between her toes, and tie them up till they grow together.

Then her feet will be like other people's, and there will be no occasion for her to wear shoes.' 'Do you mean to insinuate I've got toes, you unnatural wretch ?' cried the queen; and she moved angrily towards Harelip.

The councillor, however, who was betwixt them, leaned forward so as to prevent her touching him, but only as if to address the prince.
'Your Royal Highness,' he said, 'possibly requires to be reminded that you have got three toes yourself--one on one foot, two on the other.' 'Ha! ha! ha!' shouted the queen triumphantly.
The councillor, encouraged by this mark of favour, went on.
'It seems to me, Your Royal Highness, it would greatly endear you to your future people, proving to them that you are not the less one of themselves that you had the misfortune to be born of a sun-mother, if you were to command upon yourself the comparatively slight operation which, in a more extended form, you so wisely meditate with regard to your future princess.' 'Ha! ha! ha!' laughed the queen louder than before, and the king and the minister joined in the laugh.

Harelip growled, and for a few moments the others continued to express their enjoyment of his discomfiture.
The queen was the only one Curdie could see with any distinctness.