h comes and goes.

All was done as he desired; and, when the castle of gems was finished,
it would need a pen of jasponyx dipped in rainbows to describe it.

Victor thought he would not have a guard of soldiers for his castle,
but would lock the four golden gates with a magic key, so that no one
could enter unless the gates should swing back of their own accord.

When the castle of gems was just completed, and not a soul was in it,
Victor locked the gates with a magic key, and then dropped the key
into the ocean.

"Now," thought he, "I have done a wise thing. None but the good and
true can enter my castle of gems. The gates will not swing open for
men with base thoughts or proud hearts!"

Then he hid himself under the shadow of a tree, and watched the people
trying to enter. But they were proud men, and so the gates would not
open.

King Victor laughed, and said to himself,--

"I have done a wise thing with my magic key. How safe I shall be in
my castle of gems!"

So he stepped out of his hiding-place, and said to the people,--

"None but the good and true can get in."

Then he tried to go in himself; but the gates would not move.

The king bowed his head in shame, and walked back to his old palace.

"Alas!" said he to himself, "wise and great as I am, I thought _I_
could go in. I see it must be because I am filled with pride. Let me
hide my face; for what would Blanche say if she knew, that, because my
heart is proud, I am shut out of my own castle? I am not worthy that
she should love me; but I hope I shall learn of her to be humble and
good."

The next day he sailed for the home of his childhood. When Blanche saw
him, she blushed, and cast down her eyes; but Victor knew they were
full of tears of joy. He held her hand, and whispered,--

"Will you go with me and be my bride, beautiful Blanche?"

"I will go with you," she answered softly; and Victor's heart
rejoiced.

All the while Blanche never dreamed that he was a great prince, and
that the men who came with him were his courtiers.

When they reached Victor's kingdom, and the people shouted "Long live
the queen!" Blanche veiled her face, and trembled; for Victor
whispered in her ear that the shouts were for her. And, as the people
saw her beautiful face through her gossamer veil, they cried all the
more loudly,--

"Long live Queen Blanche! Thrice welcome, fair lady!"

The sun was sinking in the west, and his rays fell with dazzling
splendor