w as the Old Un went his way, there met him a little girl, very neat
and tidy, who sang to herself in a small happy voice and tapped along on
a crutch; but beholding the Old Un, his dazzling shoes, his rakish hat,
she stood silent all at once, glancing up wistfully into that fierce,
battered old face.

"Lumme--crutches!" he exclaimed.

"No, please--only one, sir!" she answered, dropping him a little,
old-fashioned curtsey.

"Crikey!" said he, staring, "so young, so tender, an'--a game leg! A
little angel wi' a broke wing--lumme!"

So Age and Youth stared at each other and she, being a child, was quick
to heed that the eyes so bright beneath their hoary brows were kindly
eyes, and the smile upon the grim old mouth was very reassuring,
wherefore she smiled also.

"Only one crutch, sir," she repeated. "An' the doctor says as I won't
want it much longer, sir." Here, dropping another curtsey, she held up
for his acceptance a bunch of wild flowers.

"What--f' me, little maid?" he enquired.

"Yes, please, sir."

"Why bless--bless your lovin' little 'eart!" quavered the old man, and
stooped to touch her rosy cheek with a hand gnarled and scarred with
much hard punching, yet a very gentle hand indeed. "God bless that
little game leg, but pretty flowers 'ud be wasted on a old bloke like
me. You take 'em to th' Guv, see--over there--that tall chap leanin'
over th' pool. But first gimme a--a kiss instead, will ye, little lass?"

"I'd like to, sir."

And when the Old Un had kissed and been kissed right heartily, he
pointed to Ravenslee's distant, lounging figure, winked, nodded, and
squeaked away.

Thus it was that Ravenslee, absorbed in thought, was presently roused by
the quick light tapping of the little crutch and glanced up.

"Oh!" she cried softly; the flowers fell and lay neglected as, clasping
her hands, she stared up at him in radiant-eyed wonder.

"Welcome, Highness!" said he and bowed.

"Oh, it's the Prince--my dear Prince! Oh, Goody!" and she hastened
toward him, then stopped all at once, puzzled and abashed because of his
elegant attire. Perceiving which he reached out and drew her down by him
on the marble seat beside the pool.

"Why this sudden change of demeanour, Princess?" he enquired. "What's
the matter?"

"You're--you're so different, sir--so different an' grand in all them
cute clo'es, sir."

"Am I, dear? But I'm just the same inside, you know. And, for heaven's
sake, Princess, do not call