and deer, that none of them went near it.

"I will go," thought poor Hildegarde; "let the lion tear me in
pieces. Sooner would I perish, than live on, a poor wee lamb all my
days."

So she went up to the cage, though with a faint heart; but the lion
put his paw out of the bars, and stroked her face, as if he would bid
her welcome. The keeper reported the fact with great surprise.

It may be that the beautiful brown eyes of the lamb tamed the fierce
spirit of the lion; for they were human eyes, full of Hildegarde's own
soul. Be that as it may, the lamb went every day to the cage, till the
lion learned to watch for her, and gave a low growl of joy when he saw
her coming. At last the keeper ventured to drop her carefully into the
cage. The lion was beside himself with joy; and, after that, the lamb
was placed in the cage every morning, and only taken out at night.

Then the king invited all the noblemen into his park, to see the
strange sight of a lion and a lamb living together in peace. And all
the while Hildegarde loved her shaggy companion, and asked herself
every day how it could be that a lion should have such speaking eyes
and such a tender heart. But she almost believed that he was a human
being, shut up, like herself, in a cruel disguise.

At last, when a whole year had gone by, the time came for Hilda to be
disenchanted; for the good little gnomes had declared that if she
could live for a twelvemonth in peace with a lion, the charm would
then be at an end.

Hilda did not know this; but awoke at sunrise, and, going to drink,
saw the image of her old self in the fountain; and faint voices
repeated in chorus these lines:--

"Thrice welcome, sweet Hilda! the little gnomes say
At sunrise their charms shall end;
So go to the lion, and open the cage;
The prince is your own true friend."

This was so sudden and unexpected that the happy Hilda could hardly
believe her senses. She gazed at her jewelled fingers; she touched her
velvet robe. "It is Hildegarde," said she dreamily; "where has she
stayed so long?"

She went to the cage; and, finding the key hanging on the outside,
would fain have freed the poor lion, but thought of the terror it
would cause the sheep and deer, and dared not do it.

She put her soft white arms within the bars, saying,--

"You have been a true friend to the little white lamb. She has found
her tongue again, and can say so. Kind old lion, gentle prisoner,
Hildeg