th. Then Zora spoke, and
the charm was broken. She did not intend to speak; but asked, "What
noise was that?" before she thought.

"You have broken the charm," said the fairy. "The soft-hearted gnomes
are unwilling to punish Hilda; but I hoped, by my craft, I could force
them to keep her a lamb forever; or, at most, to let her grow to a
sheep, and die by the knife.

"I will now weave a new charm; but I fear me they will repent; and
Hilda will not be got out of the way, after all. Not a word more, I
warn you."

So saying, the goblin made another circle three times, on the ground,
and again muttered,--

"How long is fair Hilda a snowy wee lamb?
The little gnomes cry, 'We fear
Till comes a brave lion so tender and true,
She lives by his side a year.'"

Zora clapped her hands again. "That is well," said she, "for never was
a lion seen who could let a little helpless lamb pass his way without
tearing it in pieces."

"True," said the gnome, well pleased, "it has worked well. Hilda will
never trouble you again: so creep home softly, and go to your rest:
dream of bats and creeping snakes; and to-morrow, at sunrise, ask
your cousin to walk with you in the park. Now adieu!"

"Adieu, sweetest and best of fairies!" said Zora, drawing her silken
mantle closely about her face. As she left the hideous cave, snakes
hissed after her, and a bat flew in her face; but she had sold herself
to evil, and walked on without fear of the creatures she so strongly
resembled.

Next morning, at the first peep of the sun, she cried, "Awake, dearest
Hilda, joy of my life, and walk with me in the park. I have lost my
diamond necklace; and last night I dreamed it was lying in the grass."

So Princess Hildegarde opened her eyes, and hastened to follow her
cousin; for her heart was quickly moved to any act of kindness.

"What a fine flock of sheep!" cried Hilda, as they were walking in
the park. "Such innocent"----

She would have said more, but the words on her tongue were suddenly
changed to tender bleatings; and even as Zora stood looking at her,
she crouched down on all fours, dwindled in size, was enveloped in
white fleece, and became a dumb lamb.

Overwhelmed with horror and surprise, she raised her pleading, tearful
eyes to the face of her cousin. But Zora gave a mocking laugh, and
said, pointing her finger at her,--

"Who now is the heir of the throne? Will they set the royal crown on a
sheep's head, think yo