Christmas-Tree Land Page 6

  CHAPTER VI.

  THE STORY OF A KING'S DAUGHTER

  (_Continued_).

  'I have been enchanted, and thou only canst set me free.'

  GRIMM'S _Raven_.

  'It seemed so at least, but in reality it was very different. Aureolehad received a shock which she felt deeply, and which she could notforget. It grieved her, too, to see her father's distress anddisappointment, and sometimes she asked herself if perhaps she had donewrong in deciding so hastily. But the sight of the little dog Fido,which had recovered, though with the loss of one eye, always removedthese misgivings. "A man who could be so cruel to a harmless littlecreature, would have quickly broken my heart," she said to herself andsometimes to her father. And as time went on, and news came that PrinceHalbert was becoming more and more feared and disliked in his own homefrom the increasing violence of his temper, the old King learnt to bethankful that his dear Aureole was not to be at the mercy of such a man.

  '"But what will become of you, my darling, when I am gone?" he wouldsay.

  '"Fear not for me," Aureole assured him. "I have no fear for myself,father, dear. Why, I could live safely in the woods with my dearanimals. If I had a little hut, and Fido to guard me, and Lello my fawn,and the little rabbit, and all my pretty birds, I should be quitehappy!"

  'For the forester to whom Fido belonged had begged Aureole to keep him,as even before its hurt the dog had learnt to love her and spring out togreet her, and wag his tail with pleasure when she passed his master'scottage, which lay on the way to her glade. But though Aureole was notafraid for herself, she was often very miserable when she thought of hercountry-people, above all the poor and defenceless ones, in the power ofsuch a king as Halbert gave signs of being, after the long and gentlerule of her father. Yet there was nothing to be done, so she keptsilence, fearing to cloud with more sorrow and anxiety the last days ofthe old King.

  'They were indeed his last days, for within a year of Halbert'sunfortunate visit her father died, and the fair Aureole was leftdesolate.

  'Her grief was great, even though the King had been very old, and shehad long known he could not be spared to her for many more years. Butshe had not much time to indulge in it, for already, before her fatherwas laid in his grave, her sorrow was disturbed by the strange andunexpected events which came to pass.

  'These began by a curious dream which came to Aureole the very night ofher father's death.

  'She dreamt that she was standing in her bower with her pets about heras usual. She felt bright and happy, and had altogether forgotten abouther father's death. Suddenly a movement of terror made itself felt amongher animals--the birds fluttered closer to her, the little rabbit creptbeneath her skirt, the fawn and Fido looked up at her with startledeyes, and almost before she had time to look round their terror wasexplained. A frightful sound was heard approaching them, the terriblegrowl of a bear, and in another moment the monster was within a fewyards. Even then, in her dream, Aureole's first thought was for herpets. She threw her arms round all that she could embrace, and stoodthere calmly, watching the creature with a faint hope that if sheshowed no terror he might pass them by. But he came nearer and nearer,till she almost felt his hot breath on her face, when suddenly, to heramazement, the monster was no longer there, but in his place the PrinceHalbert, standing beside her and looking at her with an expression ofthe profoundest misery.

  '"I have brought it on myself," he said. "I deserve it; but pity me, oh,Aureole! Sweet Aureole, pity and forgive me!" Then a cry ofirrepressible grief burst from his lips, and at this moment Aureoleawoke, to find her eyes wet with tears, her heart throbbing fast withfear and distress.

  '"What can have made me dream of Halbert?" she said to herself. "It musthave been seeing the messengers start yesterday," and then all came backto her memory, which at the first moment of waking had been confused,and she remembered her father's death and her own loneliness, and thescarcely-dried tears rushed afresh to her eyes.

  '"Has any news come from Prince Halbert?" she inquired of her attendantswhen they came at her summons. And when they told her "none," she felt astrange sensation of uneasiness. For the messengers had been despatchedat once on the death of the old King, which had been sudden at the last,to summon his successor, and there had been time already for theirreturn.

  'And as the day went on and nothing was heard of them, every one beganto think there must be something wrong, till late at night these fearswere confirmed by the return of the messengers with anxious faces.

  '"Has the Prince arrived?" was their first question, and when they weretold that nothing had been seen of him, they explained the reason oftheir inquiry.

  'Halbert, already informed of the illness of the old King, had quicklyprepared to set out with his own attendants and those who had come tosummon him. They had ridden through the night, and had nothing untowardoccurred, they would have ended their journey by daybreak. But thePrince had lost his temper with his horse, a nervous and restlessanimal, unfit for so irritable a person to manage.

  '"We became uneasy," said the messengers, "on seeing the Prince lashingand spurring furiously the poor animal, who, his sides streaming withblood, no longer understood what was required of him, and at last,driven mad with pain and terror, dashed off at a frantic pace which itwas hopeless to overtake. We followed him as best we could, guided forsome distance by the branches broken as they passed and the ploughed-upground, which, thanks to a brilliant moonlight, we were able todistinguish. But at last, where the trees began to grow morethickly----" and here the speaker, who was giving this report to Aureoleherself, hesitated--"at last these traces entirely disappeared. Wesought on in every direction; when the moon went in we waited for thedaylight, and resumed our search. But all to no purpose, and at last weresolved to ride on hither, hoping that the Prince might possibly havefound his way before us."

  '"But this is terrible!" cried Aureole, forgetting all her indignationagainst Halbert in the thought of his lying perhaps crushed and helplessin some bypath of the forest which his followers had missed. "We must atonce send out fresh horsemen in every direction to scour the country."

  'The captain who had had command of the little troop bowed, but saidnothing, and seemed without much hope that any fresh efforts wouldsucceed. Aureole was struck with his manner.

  '"You are concealing something from me," she said. "Why do you appear sohopeless? Even at the worst, even supposing the Prince is killed, hemust be found."

  '"We searched too thoroughly," replied the officer. "Wherever it was_possible_ to get, we left not a square yard unvisited."

  '"Wherever it was _possible_," repeated Aureole; "what do you mean? Youdo not think----" and she too hesitated, and her pale face grew paler.

  'The captain glanced at her.

  '"I see that you have divined our fears, Princess," he said in a lowvoice. "Yes, we feel almost without a doubt that the unfortunate Princehas been carried into the enchanted forest, from whence, as you wellknow, none have ever been known to return. It is well that his parentshave not lived to see this day, for, though he brought it on himself, itis impossible not to feel pity for such a fate."

  'Aureole seemed scarcely able to reply. But she gave orders,notwithstanding all she had heard, to send out fresh horsemen to searchagain in every direction.

  '"My poor father," she said to herself; "I am glad he was spared thisnew sorrow about Halbert." And as the remembrance of her strange dreamreturned to her, "Poor Halbert," she added, "what may he not besuffering?" and she shuddered at the thought.

  'For the enchanted forest was the terror of all that country. In realitynothing, or almost nothing, was known of it, and therefore the awe andhorror about it were the greater. It lay in a lonely stretch of groundbetween two ranges of hills, and no one ever passed through it, forthere was no pathway or entrance of any kind to be seen. But for longerthan any one now living could remember, it had been spoken of as a placeto be dreaded and avoided, and travellers in passing by used to tell howthey had heard
shrieks and screams and groans from among its darkshades. It was said that a magician lived in a castle in the very centreof the forest, and that he used all sorts of tricks to get people intohis power, whence they could never again escape. For though several wereknown to have been tempted to enter the forest, none of them were everheard of or seen again. And it was the common saying of theneighbourhood, that it would be far worse to lose a child by strayinginto the forest than by dying. No one had ever seen the magician, no oneeven was sure that he existed, but when any misfortune came over theneighbourhood, such as a bad harvest or unusual sickness, people weresure to say that the wizard of the forest was at the bottom of it. AndAureole, like every one else, had a great and mysterious terror of theplace and its master.

  '"Poor Halbert!" she repeated to herself many times that day. "Would Icould do anything for him!"

  'The bands of horsemen she had sent out returned one after the otherwith the same tidings,--nothing had been seen or heard of the Prince.But late in the day a woodman brought to the castle a fragment of clothwhich was recognised as having been torn from the mantle of the Prince,and which he had found caught on the branch of a tree. When asked where,he hesitated, which of itself was answer enough.

  '"Close to the borders of the enchanted forest," he said at last,lowering his voice. But that was all he had to tell. And from thismoment all lost hope. There was nothing more to be done.

  '"The Prince is as lost to us as is our good old King," were the wordsof every one on the day of the funeral of Aureole's father. "Far betterfor him were he too sleeping peacefully among his fathers than to bewhere he is."

  'It seemed as if it would have certainly been better for his people hadit been so. It was impossible to receive the successor of Halbert asking till a certain time had elapsed, which would be considered as equalto proof of his death. And the next heir to the crown being but aninfant living in a distant country, the delay gave opportunity forseveral rival claimants to begin to make difficulties, and not manymonths after the death of the old King the once happy and peacefulcountry was threatened with war and invasion on various sides. Then theheads of the nation consulted together, and decided on a bold step. Theycame to Aureole offering her the crown, declaring that they preferred tooverthrow the laws of the country, though they had existed for manycenturies, and to make her, at the point of the sword if necessary,their queen, rather than accept as sovereign any of those who had noright to it, or an infant who would but be a name and no reality.

  'Aureole was startled and bewildered, but firm in her refusal.

  '"A king's daughter am I, but no queen. I feel no fitness for the taskof ruling," she replied, "and I could never rest satisfied that I waswhere I had a right to be."

  'But when the deputies entreated her to consider the matter, and whenshe thought of the misery in store for the people unless something werequickly done, she agreed to think it over till the next day.

  'The next day came, Aureole was ready, awaiting the deputies. Theirhopes rose high as they saw her, for there was an expression on her facethat had not been there the day before. She stood before them in herlong mourning robe, but she had encircled her waist with a golden belt,and golden ornaments shone on her neck and arms.

  '"It is a good sign," the envoys whispered, as they remarked also thebright and hopeful light in her eyes, and they stood breathless, waitingfor her reply. It was not what they had expected.

  '"I cannot as yet consent to what you wish," said Aureole; "but bepatient. I set off to-day on a journey from which I hope to return withgood news. Till then I entreat you to do your best to keep all peacefuland quiet. And I promise you that if I fail in what I am undertaking, Iwill return to be your queen."

  'This was all she would say. She was forbidden, she declared, to saymore. And so resolute and decided did she appear, that the envoys,though not without murmuring, were obliged to consent to await herreturn, and withdrew with anxious and uneasy looks.

  'And Aureole immediately began to get ready for the mysterious journeyof which she had spoken. Her preparations were strange. She took off,for the first time since her father's death, her black dress, and cladherself entirely in white. Then she kissed her old nurse and bade herfarewell, at the same time telling her to keep up her courage and haveno fear, to which the old dame could not reply without tears.

  '"I do not urge you to tell me the whole, Princess," she said, "as itwas forbidden you to do so. But if I might but go with you." Aureoleshook her head.

  '"No, dear nurse," she replied. "The voice in my dream said, 'Alone,save for thy dumb friends.' That is all I can tell you," and kissingagain the poor nurse, Aureole set off, none knew whither, and she tookcare that none should follow her. Some of her attendants saw her goingin the direction of her bower, and remarked her white dress. But theywere so used to her going alone to see her pets that they thought nomore of it. For no one knew the summons Aureole had received. The nightbefore, after tossing about unable to sleep, so troubled was she by therequest that had been made to her, she at last fell into a slumber, andagain there came to her a strange dream. She thought she saw her cousin;he seemed pale and worn with distress and suffering.

  '"Aureole," he said, "you alone can rescue me. Have you courage? I askit not only for myself, but for our people."

  'And when in her sleep she would have spoken, no words came, only shefelt herself stretching out her arms to Halbert as if to reach and savehim.

  '"Come, then," said his voice; "but come alone, save for thy dumbfriends. Tell no one, but fear not." But even as he said the words heseemed to disappear, and again the dreadful, the panting roar she hadheard in her former dream reached Aureole's ears, in another moment theterrible shape of the monster appeared, and shivering with horror sheawoke. Yet she determined to respond to Halbert's appeal. She told noone except her old nurse, to whom she merely said that she had beensummoned in a dream to go away, but that no harm would befall her. Sheclad herself in white, as a better omen of success, and when she reachedher bower, all her creatures welcomed her joyfully. So, with Fido, Lellothe fawn, and the little rabbit gambolling about her feet, thewood-pigeons on her shoulders, and all the strange company of birdsfluttering about her, Aureole set off on her journey, she knew notwhither.

  'But her pets knew. Whenever she felt at a loss Fido would give a littletug to her dress and then run on barking in front, or Lello would lookup in her face with his pleading eyes and then turn his head in acertain direction, while the birds would sometimes disappear for a fewmoments and then, with a great chirping and fluttering, would be seenagain a little way overhead, as if to assure her they had been to lookif she was taking the right way. So that when night began to fall,Aureole, very tired, but not discouraged, found herself far from home ina part of the forest she had never seen before, though with tremblingshe said to herself that for all she knew she might already be in theenchanter's country.

  '"But what if it be so?" she reflected. "I must not be faint-heartedbefore my task is begun."

  'She was wondering how she should spend the night when a sharp bark fromFido made her look round. She followed to where it came from, and foundthe little dog at the door of a small hut cleverly concealed among thetrees. Followed by her pets Aureole entered it, when immediately, as ifpulled by an invisible hand, the door shut to. But she forgot to befrightened in her surprise at what she saw. The hut was beautifully madeof the branches of trees woven together, and completely lined with moss.A small fire burned cheerfully in one corner, for the nights were stillchilly; a little table was spread with a snow-white cloth, on which werelaid out fruits and cakes and a jug of fresh milk; and a couch of thesoftest moss covered with a rug made of fur was evidently arranged forAureole's bed. And at the other side of the hut sweet hay was strewn forthe animals, and a sort of trellis work of branches was ready in onecorner for the birds to roost on.

  '"How pleasant it is!" said Aureole, as she knelt down to warm herselfbefore the fire. "If this is the enchanted forest I don't think it is
atall a dreadful place, and the wizard must be very kind and hospitable."

  'And when she had had some supper and had seen that her pets had allthey wanted, she lay down on the mossy couch feeling refreshed andhopeful, and soon fell fast asleep. She had slept for some hours whenshe suddenly awoke, though what had awakened her she could not tell. Butglancing round the hut, by the flickering light of the fire, which wasnot yet quite out, she saw that all her pets were awake, and when shegently called "Fido, Fido," the little dog, followed by the fawn and therabbit, crept across the hut to her, and when she touched them she feltthat they were all shaking and trembling, while the birds seemed to betrying to hide themselves all huddled together in a corner. And almostbefore Aureole had time to ask herself what it could be, their fear wasexplained, for through the darkness outside came the sound she had twiceheard in her dreams--the terrible panting roar of the monster! It camenearer and nearer. Aureole felt there was nothing to do. She threw herarms round the poor little trembling creatures determined to protectthem to the last. Suddenly there came a great bang at the door, as ifsome heavy creature had thrown itself against it, and Aureole trembledstill more, expecting the door to burst open. But the mysterious handthat had shut it had shut it well. It did not move. Only a lowdespairing growl was heard, and then all was silent till a few minutesafter, when another growl came from some distance off, and then Aureolefelt sure the danger was past: the beast had gone away, for, though shehad not seen him, she was certain he was none other than the monster ofher dreams. The poor animals cowered down again in their corner, andAureole, surprised at the quickness with which her terror had passed,threw herself on her couch and fell into a sweet sleep. When she woke,the sun was already some way up in the sky; the door was half open, anda soft sweet breeze fluttered into the hut. All was in order; the littlefire freshly lighted, the remains of last night's supper removed, and atempting little breakfast arranged. Aureole could scarcely believe hereyes. "Some one must have come in while I was asleep," she said, andFido seemed to understand what she meant. He jumped up, wagging histail, and was delighted when Aureole sat down at the little table to eatwhat was provided. All her pets seemed as happy as possible, and hadquite forgotten their fright. So, after breakfast, Aureole called themall about her and set off again on her rambles. Whither she was to goshe knew not; she had obeyed the summons as well as she could, and nowwaited to see what more to do. The animals seemed to think they had gotto the end of their journey, and gambolled and fluttered about in thebest of spirits. And even Aureole herself felt it impossible to be sador anxious. Never had she seen anything so beautiful as the forest, withits countless paths among the trees, each more tempting than the other,the sunshine peeping in through the branches, the lovely flowers ofcolours and forms she had never seen before, the beautiful birdswarbling among the trees, the little squirrels and rabbits playingabout, and the graceful deer one now and then caught sight of.

  '"Why," exclaimed Aureole, "_this_ the terrible enchanted forest! It isa perfect fairyland."

  '"You say true," said a voice beside her, which made her start. "To suchas _you_ it is a fairyland of delight. But to _me_!" and before Aureolecould recover herself from her surprise, there before her stood thePrince Halbert! But how changed! Scarcely had she recognised him whenevery feeling was lost in that of pity.

  '"Oh, poor Halbert," she cried, "so I have found you! Where have youbeen? What makes you look so miserable and ill?"

  'For Halbert seemed wasted to a shadow. His clothes, torn and tattered,hung loosely about him. His face was pale and thin, and his eyes sad andhopeless, though, as he saw the pitying look in her face, a gleam ofbrightness came into his.

  '"Oh, Aureole, how good of you to come! It is out of pity for _me_, whoso little deserve it. But will you have strength to do all that isrequired to free me from this terrible bondage?"

  '"Explain yourself, Halbert," Aureole replied. "What is it you mean?What bondage? Remember I know nothing; not even if this is truly theenchanted forest."

  'Halbert glanced at the sun, now risen high in the heavens. "I have buta quarter of an hour," he said. "It is only one hour before noon that Iam free."

  'And then he went on to relate as quickly as he could what had come overhim. Fallen into the power of the invisible spirits of the enchantedland, whose wrath he had for long incurred by his cruelty to thosebeneath him, among whom were poor little Fido, and the unhappy horse whohad dropped dead beneath him as soon as they entered the forest, hispunishment had been pronounced to him by a voice in his dreams. It was aterrible one. For twenty-three hours of the twenty-four which make theday and night, he was condemned to roam the woods in the guise of adreadful monster, bringing terror wherever he came. "I have to be inappearance what I was formerly in heart," he said bitterly. "You cannotimagine how fearful it is to see the tender innocent little animalsfleeing from me in terror, though I would now die rather than injure oneof them. And even you, Aureole, if you saw me you too would rush from mein horror."

  '"I have seen you," she replied. "I have twice seen you in my dreams,and now that I know all I shall not fear you."

  '"Do you indeed think so?" he exclaimed eagerly. "Your pity and courageare my only hope. For I am doomed to continue this awful life--forhundreds of years perhaps--till twelve dumb animals mount on my back andlet me carry them out of this forest. In my despair, when I heard thissentence, I thought of you and your favourites, whom I used to mock atand ill-treat more than you knew. They love and trust you so much thatit is possible you may make them do this. But I fear for your owncourage."

  '"No," said Aureole, "that will not fail. And Fido is of a mostforgiving nature. See here," she went on, calling to the little dog,"here is poor Halbert, who wants you to love him. Stroke him, Halbert,"and as the Prince gently did so, Fido looked up in his face with wistfuleyes, and began timidly to wag his tail, while Lello and the rabbit drewnear, and the birds fluttered, chirping above their heads. It was apretty picture.

  '"See," said Aureole, raising her bright face from caressing the goodlittle creatures, "see, Halbert, how loving and gentle they are! It willnot be difficult. In many ways they are wiser than we. But I can neveragain believe that the spirits of the forest are evil or mischievous.Rather do I now think them good and benevolent. How happy seem all thecreatures under their care!"

  '"I know no more than I have told you," said Halbert; "but I too believethey must be good, cruelly as they have punished me, for I deserved it.And doubtless all those who are said to have disappeared in the foresthave been kept here for good purposes. And such as you, Aureole, havenothing to fear in any country or from any spirits. But I must go," heexclaimed. "I would not have you _yet_ see me in my other form. You mustreflect over what I have said, and prepare yourself for it."

  '"And when, then, shall I see you again?" she asked.

  '"To-night, at sunset, at the door of your hut, you will see--alas, not_me_!" he whispered, and then in a moment he had disappeared.

  'At sunset that evening Aureole sat at the door of the little hut,surrounded by her animals. She had petted and caressed them even morethan usual, so anxious was she to prepare them for their strange task.She had even talked of it to Fido and Lello with a sort of vague ideathat they might understand a little, though their only answer was forFido to wag his tail and Lello to rub his soft nose against her. Butsuddenly both pricked up their ears, and then clinging more closely totheir mistress, began to tremble with fear, while the birds drew near ina frightened flock.

  '"Silly birds," said Aureole, trying to speak in her usual cheerfultone, "what have _you_ to fear? Bears don't eat little birds, and youcan fly off in a moment. Not that I want you to fly away;" and shewhistled and called to them, at the same time caressing and encouragingthe animals, whose quick ears had caught sooner than she had done thedreadful baying roar which now came nearer and nearer. It was exactlythe scene of her dreams, and notwithstanding all her determination,Aureole could not help shivering as the form of the monster came insight. "Supp
ose it is not Halbert," she thought. "Suppose it is all atrick of the spirits of this enchanted country for my destruction!" Andthe idea nearly made her faint as the dreadful beast drew near. Hewas so hideous, and his roars made him seem still more so. His great redtongue hung out of his mouth, his eyes seemed glaring with rage. It wasall Aureole could do to keep her pets round her, and she felt that herterror would take away all her power over them.

  Aureole could not help shivering as the form of themonster came in sight.]

  '"Oh, Halbert," she exclaimed, "_is_ it you? I know you cannot speak,but can you not make some sign to show me that it is you? I am sofrightened." She had started up as if on the point of running away. Themonster, who was close beside her, opened still wider his huge mouth,and gave a roar of despair. Then an idea seemed to strike him--he benthis clumsy knees, and rubbed his great head on the ground at her feet;Aureole's courage returned. She patted his head, and he gave a faintgroan of relief. Then by degrees, with the greatest patience, she coaxedthe animals to draw near, and at last placed Fido and Lello on thebeast's immense back. But though they now seemed less frightened theywould not stay there, but jumped off again, and pressed themselves closeagainst her. It was no use; after hours, at least so it seemed toAureole, spent in trying, she had to give it up.

  '"I cannot do it, Halbert," she said. A groan was his reply. Thenanother thought struck her.

  '"I will climb on your back myself," she exclaimed; "and then perhaps Ican coax the animals to stay there."

  'The poor beast tried to stoop down still lower to make it easier forAureole to get on. She managed it without much difficulty, andimmediately Fido and Lello and the rabbit saw her mounted, up theyjumped, for they had no idea of being left behind. The wood-pigeons camecooing down from the branch where they had taken refuge in their fright,and perched on her shoulders. Aureole looked up, and called and whistledto the other birds. Down they came as if bewitched, and settled roundher, all the seven of them on the beast's furry back.

  '"Off, Halbert," cried Aureole, afraid to lose an instant, and off,nothing loth, the beast set. It was hard work to keep on. He plungedalong so clumsily, and went so fast in his eagerness, that it was likeriding on an earthquake. But when now and then he stopped, and gave alow pitiful roar, as if begging Aureole's pardon for shaking her so, shealways found breath to say: "On, Halbert, on; think not of me."

  'And so at last, after hours of this terrible journey, many times duringwhich Aureole's heart had been in her mouth at the least sign ofimpatience among the animals, they reached the borders of the enchantedcountry, and as the panting beast emerged from the forest with hisstrange burden, poor Aureole slipped fainting off his back. Her task wasdone.

  'When she came back to her senses and opened her eyes, her first thoughtwas for the beast, but he had disappeared. Fido and Lello, and all theothers were there, however; the dog licking her hands, the fawn nestlingbeside her, and at a little distance stood a figure she seemed to know,though no longer miserable and wretched as she had last seen him. It wasHalbert, strong and handsome and happy again, but with a look in hiseyes of gentleness and humility and gratitude that had never been therein the old days.

  '"Halbert," said Aureole, sitting up and holding out her hand to him,"is all then right?"

  '"All is right," he replied; "you can see for yourself. But, oh,Aureole, how can I thank you? My whole life would not be long enough torepay or----"

  '"Think not about thanking me," interrupted Aureole. "My best rewardwill be the delight of restoring to my dear country-people a king whosefirst object will _now_, I feel assured, be their happiness;" and hereyes sparkled with delight at the thought.

  'She was right. Nothing could exceed the joy of the nation at the returnof Aureole, and thanks to her assurances of his changed character, theysoon learned to trust their new king as he deserved.

  'No one ever knew the true history of his disappearance, but all admiredand respected the noble and unselfish courage of Aureole in braving thedangers of the enchanted forest itself. Her pets all lived to a good oldage, and had every comfort they could wish for. It was said thatHalbert's only sorrow was that for long he could not persuade Aureole tofulfil her father's wishes by marrying him. But some years later arumour came from the far-off country where these events happened,telling of the beautiful "king's daughter" having at last consented tobecome a king's wife as well, now that she knew Halbert to be worthy ofher fullest affection.

  'And if this is true, I have no doubt it was for their happiness as wellas for that of their subjects, among whom I include the twelve faithfulanimals.'