Well, once upon a time there was a great king." "Was it King Arthur, mother ?" interrupted Olly, eagerly.
"Oh no! this king lived in a different country altogether.

He lived in a beautiful hot country over the sea, called Spain." "Oh, mother! a _hot_ country!" protested Milly, "that's where the rain goes to." "Well, Milly, I don't think you know any more about it, except that you _tell_ the rain to go there.

Don't you know by this time that the rain never does what it's told?
Really, very little rain goes to Spain, and in some parts of the country the people would be very glad indeed if we could send them some of the rain we don't want at Ravensnest.

But now, you mustn't interrupt me, or I shall forget my story--Well there was once a king who lived in a _very_ hot part of Spain, where they don't have much rain, and where it hardly ever snows or freezes.

And this king had a beautiful wife, whom he loved very much.