orning, however, the ladies
ascertained that the rope was not hanging from the Prince's window, and
as the guards reported that he was comfortably sleeping in his bed, it
was unanimously concluded that Nerralina had been discovered in her
attempt, and had come to grief. Sorrowing bitterly, somewhat for the
unknown mishap of her maid of honor, but still more for the now certain
fate of him she loved, Aufalia went into the garden, and, making her way
through masses of rose-trees and jasmines, to the most secluded part of
the grounds, threw herself upon a violet bank and wept unrestrainedly,
the tears rolling one by one from her eyes, like a continuous string of
pearls.

Now it so happened that this spot was the pleasure ground of a company
of fairies, who had a colony near by. These fairies were about an inch
and a half high, beautifully formed, and of the most respectable class.
They had not been molested for years by any one coming to this spot; but
as they knew perfectly well who the Princess was, they were not at all
alarmed at her appearance. In fact, the sight of her tears rolling so
prettily down into the violet cups, and over the green leaves, seemed to
please them much, and many of the younger ones took up a tear or two
upon their shoulders to take home with them.

There was one youth, the handsomest of them all, named Ting-a-ling, who
had a beautiful little sweetheart called Ling-a-ting.

Each one of these lovers, when they were about to return to their homes,
picked up the prettiest tear they could find. Ting-a-ling put his tear
upon his shoulder, and walked along as gracefully as an Egyptian woman
with her water-jug; while little Ling-a-ting, with her treasure borne
lightly over her head, skipped by her lover's side, as happy as happy
could be.

"Don't walk out in the sun, my dearest," said Ting-a-ling. "Your
shin-shiney will burst."

"Burst! O no, Tingy darling, no it won't. See how nice and big it is
getting, and so light! Look!" cried she, throwing back her head; "I can
see the sky through it; and O! what pretty colors,--blue, green, pink,
and"--And the tear burst, and poor little Ling-a-ting sunk down on the
grass, drenched and drowned.

Horror-stricken, Ting-a-ling dropped his tear and wept. Clasping his
hands above his head, he fell on his knees beside his dear one, and
raised his eyes to the blue sky in bitter anguish. But when he cast them
down again, little Ling-a-ting was all soaked into the g