robbery; this hind is mine."

"No, sir, she is mine," returned Gilliflower, respectfully. "She knows
she is, and will prove it if you will only give her a little liberty.
My pretty pet, come and embrace me." The hind crept into her arms.
"Now kiss me on my right cheek." She obeyed. "Now touch my heart." She
laid her foot against Gilliflower's bosom.

"I allow she is yours," said the prince, discontentedly. "Take her and
go your ways."

But he followed them at a distance, and was very much surprised to see
them enter the cottage. He asked the old woman who the damsel was, but
she said she did not know, except that the lady and the hind lived
there together in solitude, and paid her well. But when Becafico, who
had eyes as sharp as needles, coming to meet his master, by chance
caught sight of Gilliflower, he recognised her at once.

"Here is some great mystery," said he, "for that is the lady who was
the favourite of the Princess Desiree."

"Do not utter that name, which only recalls my grief," said the
prince, sadly; but Becafico, determined to gratify his curiosity, made
all sorts of inquiries, and discovered that Gilliflower was lodged in
the next room.

"I should like to see her again," thought he; "and since only a thin
partition divides us, I will bore a hole through."

He did so, and beheld a wonderful sight. There sat the fairest
princess in all the world, attired in a robe of silver brocade, her
hair falling in long curls, and her eyes sparkling through tears.
Gilliflower knelt before her, binding up her beautiful arm, from which
the blood was flowing.

"Do not heed it," sighed the princess; "better let me die, for death
itself would be sweeter than the life I lead. Alas! how hard it is to
be a hind all day; to see my betrothed, to feel his tenderness and
goodness, yet be unable to speak to him, or to tell him the fatal
destiny which divides me from him."

When Becafico heard this, words cannot describe his astonishment and
delight. He ran towards the prince, who sat moodily at the window.
"Sir," cried he, "only look through this hole, and you will see the
original of the portrait which so fascinated you."

The prince looked, and recognised at once his beloved princess. He
would have died with joy, had he not believed himself deceived by
some enchantment. He knocked at the door, Gilliflower opened it; he
entered, and threw himself at the feet of Desiree. What followed--of
explanations, vows, tears, a