Why should I, when I know you will not believe me ?' returned the princess.

For she did know perfectly well that if she were to tell Lootie what she had been about, the more she went on to tell her, the less would she believe her.
'You are the most provoking child!' cried her nurse.

'You deserve to be well punished for your wicked behaviour.' 'Please, Mrs Housekeeper,' said the princess, 'will you take me to your room, and keep me till my king-papa comes?
I will ask him to come as soon as he can.' Every one stared at these words.

Up to this moment they had all regarded her as little more than a baby.
But the housekeeper was afraid of the nurse, and sought to patch matters up, saying: 'I am sure, princess, nursie did not mean to be rude to you.' 'I do not think my papa would wish me to have a nurse who spoke to me as Lootie does.

If she thinks I tell lies, she had better either say so to my papa, or go away.