nly a spirit of mere wantonness that led her to vex and torment
him. Long into the night did the royal couple converse, striving to
devise some means of bringing their wayward daughter to her senses.
They at last hit upon a plan, which they fondly hoped might be the
means of securing the happiness of their child, and settling her
comfortably in life.

The next morning his majesty sent for the dwarf, Puck, to his private
cabinet, and received him with an unusually grave and troubled aspect.

"Venerable sire," said Puck, making a mock reverence, and scarcely
able to suppress a chuckle at the solemn looks of his master, "what
facetious dream hath been playing its mad pranks about thy sacred
pillow? Never saw I kingly face so mirthfully beprankt."

"Come hither, good Puck," said the king, patiently, "and when thou
hast made thy breakfast of fun upon thy poor master, listen to him
seriously."

"Dear prince", said the dwarf, suddenly running up to the king and
casting himself weeping at his feet, "art thou, then, really troubled?
Forgive thy poor slave!" and he began blubbering in the most pitiable
manner, while he looked up into the face of the king with such a look
of wo-begone and ludicrous despair, that Paterflor himself could
scarce refrain from bursting into laughter.

"Thou hast done nothing wrong, good Puck--handsome Puck," said the
king, chucking his favorite under the chin. "I have need of thee.
Here is my signet-ring. Bring me straight hither a young and handsome
peasant, one who has never been seen by the court, nor any inhabitant
of the palace. He must be intelligent, conscientious, and trustworthy.
Dost thou know of such a one?"

"Yes, your majesty, I think I do. My friend, young Paudeen O'Rafferty,
the son of the old forest-keeper, has just returned from Ireland,
where he was carried by the fairies at his christening, and has been
kept ever since until now, trying to get through the rent made by Mr.
O'Connell in the pockets of his relatives. He's as tight an Irish lad
as your majesty ever saw; and as for his honesty, I'll endorse it with
both hands. The O'Raffertys are constitutionally honest."

"Well, bring him hither at once. I shall be ready to receive him."

Puck, with his funny face entirely restored to good humor, left the
palace by a private gate, and running across a beautiful meadow,
disappeared in the dark green forest. Idle lingerer as he was, he felt
a strong inclination, at every hazel-cop