Read "Honey-Bee" by Anatole France online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
King Loc did not permit the young girl to observe his weakness; but when he was alone he sat on the ground and with his feet in his hands gave way to grief. He was jealous. "She loves him," he said to himself, "and she does not love me! And yet I am a king and very wise; great treasures are mine and I know the most marvellous secrets. I am superior to all other dwarfs, who are in turn superior to all men. She does not love me but she loves a young man who not only has not the learning of the dwarfs, but no other learning either.
"It must be acknowledged that she does not appreciate merit -- nor has she much sense. I ought to laugh at her want of judgment; but I love her and I care for nothing in the world because she does not love me."