of hardships, which she
merely said were extremely good for him, she led him down by a private
staircase to the gardens at the back of the Palace, and through them, by
a postern gate of which she had the key, to an uncultivated region of
glades and groves. Here she ordered him to conceal himself behind a
thicket at the edge of a clearing, and to remain there till she gave him
leave to come out. He waited for what seemed an interminable time--and
then his patience was rewarded. The Fairy returned with the very lady of
his visions. _This_ time at least his Godmother had not deceived
him--the living reality was even more radiantly beautiful than his
dream! They passed and repassed him several times, and, if he had not
seen Daphne, the mere sound of her gay sweet voice would have been
enough to enslave him. But he could see her perfectly well, and note the
animation of her every gesture, the easy grace with which she moved, and
her pretty tenderness for the old woman who was leaning on her strong
young arm. When would the Fairy see fit to call him forth and present
him to this adorable being? And yet, inconsistently enough, he was
dreading the moment. How could he hope, changed as he was now, that
those bright eyes would regard him with any interest whatever? But, as
it happened, they did not regard him at all on this occasion, for, after
a few more turns up and down the clearing, the Fairy retired with her
_protegee_, and presently re-appeared alone.

"Well," she said, as Mirliflor came forward at her summons, "now you
have seen her, what is your decision?"

"I stay here," he replied, "and will submit to anything as long as there
is a chance of gaining her."

"I expected as much," she said. "And I have arranged that you shall be
employed here as one of the Royal under-gardeners."

"An under-gardener!" he exclaimed. "Really, Godmother, that is not
giving me a fair chance! And I've never done any gardening in my life!"

"Then it is high time you began," she said calmly. "It will not only
give you a greater respect for manual labour, but subdue your pride."

"You have left me nothing I can be proud of. And what opportunity shall
I have of even seeing her?"

"You will be given the key which will admit you to the grounds, and the
pavilion in which she lives is not far from here. As to opportunities of
meeting her, you must make them for yourself. Those are my conditions,"
said the despotic old Fairy, "and if you don't c