The Tears of Princess Prunella

Other stories included in this collection are The Weird Witch of the Willowherb, Somebody Else's Prince, The Lady Daffodilia, The Palace on the Floor and The Kite That Went to the Moon.

Princess Prunella, who would have been considered the most beautiful and charming girl on either side of the sun if she wasn't so cross and discontent, lives in a palace with her parents, the King and Queen of Fairyland.

The King is furious and worries the crowd's disappointment will lead to a war, when suddenly the Princess jumps to her feet, pointing to a boy she thinks has a wonderful look on his face.

For weeks the Princess is overjoyed, until Deaf Robert grows unhappy and the wonderful look disappears from his face as he wishes to go back to the town and the forest.

Deaf Robert slays a dragon and saves a princess but does not accept the award for doing so in order to fulfill the action of braveness and kindness.

Finally, after many failed attempts, he meets a Wymp who is disguised as a young girl who helps him determine that leaving his Princess was most foolish and to return to her would be most wise.

Upon this realization he hurries back to the palace where Princess Prunella has once again pricked her finger, but this time he can hear her soft, sweet tears.

After completing tasks of something brave, kind, foolish and wise he fulfills his wish to erase his deafness to things that are not considered beautiful, becoming a "real boy".

Yet at the end of the story, she changes her mind agreeing with Deaf Robert's initial thoughts that the sounds of the forest and it luscious beauty are much sweeter to the ear.