ain down for rest and silence was still here,
withal at rest in her grave-garb, and silent in her sleep; but
those who had done these things had removed the grave-clothing
so that these small shoes could be seen, still upon the feet of
the princess that had slept a thousand years, enfolded in love.

For a price these might have sold the shoes of the princess, for
there were those cruel enough to strip her of that which she had
worn when she lay down to be alone. But this I could not do.
I did not carry away the shoes in my hands, but in some way it
seemed to me that I took them; for that night, as I sat at the
little table in my room, with the dim light falling as is its
wont at those hours, I saw upon the table before me these same
shoes of the princess of thousands of years ago, small and
golden; things to make one weep, so sad their story, disturbed
thus after they had been placed away for silence. I gazed at
them for a time, and presently I saw appear upon the table
beside them, the form of the Singing Mouse, as tall perhaps as
the fronts of these golden shoes.

"See," said the Singing Mouse, "here are her shoes, those of the
princess who has been resting. They crossed the paved floors of
palaces. They knew the steps of a throne. They were made by love
for love and given in love to rest and silence. She was as one
you have known, as many whom others know now. Tell me, is she
not beautiful?"

I saw standing before me the figure of the princess, tall and
slender and very beautiful. And now the grave garments were not
seen, for her robe was of silk, new and soft and shapely like to
herself, and her arms were round and soft, and her eyes were
full and dark, and her hair was as deep shadows. A band of gold
was about her brow, and her cheek was red and tender in its
bloom. Her neck was white and round, and her hands were white,
and her slender fingers curved slightly as her arms hung down by
her sides. Her feet were small and straight, and all, all of her
was beautiful, and she was a princess.

[Illustration]

Now as I gazed, I saw the face and saw that it was one I knew,
and had known long; so then I knew that the princess who was
placed away for rest and silence had never died; for did she not
stand here before me, and had I not long known her thus? Ah,
beautiful!

I took up these small golden shoes in my hands and held them out
to her. "Take these little shoes," I said, "wrought as cunning
as man may know. P