How she does go on about my nose ! '' said the Prince to himself . `` One would almost think that mine had taken all the extra length that hers lacks ! If I were not so hungry I would soon have done with this chatterpie who thinks she talks very little ! How stupid people are not to see their own faults ! That comes of being a princess : she has been spoiled by flatterers , who have made her believe that she is quite a moderate talker ! '' Meanwhile the servants were putting the supper on the table , and the prince was much amused to hear the Fairy who asked them a thousand questions simply for the pleasure of hearing herself speak ; especially he noticed one maid who , no matter what was being said , always contrived to praise her mistress 's wisdom . `` Well ! '' he thought , as he ate his supper , `` I 'm very glad I came here . This just shows me how sensible I have been in never listening to flatterers . People of that sort praise us to our faces without shame , and hide our faults or change them into virtues . For my part I never will be taken in by them . I know my own defects , I hope . '' Poor Prince Hyacinth ! He really believed what he said , and had n't an idea that the people who had praised his nose were laughing at him , just as the Fairy 's maid was laughing at her ; for the Prince had seen her laugh slyly when she could do so without the Fairy 's noticing her . However , he said nothing , and presently , when his hunger began to be appeased , the Fairy said : `` My dear Prince , might I beg you to move a little more that way , for your nose casts such a shadow that I really can not see what I have on my plate . Ah ! thanks . Now let us speak of your father . When I went to his Court he was only a little boy , but that is forty years ago , and I have been in this desolate place ever since .
Tell me what goes XXXXX nowadays ; are the ladies as fond of amusement as ever ?
If as at for in on since that with without