undertaking, and the dear princess would prove to be no
Philistine, but just what he had fancied her.

As Nono drew nearer to Stockholm the cottagers seemed to be of a
rougher sort; and it was well that he had money to buy what he needed,
for nobody seemed to care to look at him or his piggie. When he tried
to tell his story about Karin and little Decima, and that he was going
to see the princess, he heard only rude shouts of derision or hard
words in reply. He got, however, leave to pass the night in a stable,
with Blackie beside him, with the parting good-night warning not to
steal off with the lent blanket in the morning. It would not have been
easy to slip off unobserved, for the stable was locked and barred, and
Nono was as safely imprisoned as if he had been in the common jail.
The friendly old cart-horse taught him no harm, and mumbled with
contentment as it cheerfully ate its humble fare, peering now and then
towards the dark corner where Blackie sang and scolded, as if for the
special entertainment of the host in the stable.

By making payment in advance in the morning Nono got a glass of milk to
take with his hard bread, and Blackie had the same fare, which put him
in a good humour for the day.

Nono was surprised to find that he felt a little shy about entering the
city, when he saw the spires shining in the morning sun and the houses
rising in close lines about them. The mist had fairly rolled away.
All nature was bright, but Nono had too solemn a sense of the greatness
and the extraordinary nature of his undertaking to be in anything but a
serious mood.

He was in the outskirts of Stockholm, when some big apprentice boys who
were on their way to their work hailed him as he was in the midst of a
contention with Blackie, who seemed convinced that, with all his
accomplishments, he was not fit for city life, and it was best for him
to stay in the rural districts. The apprentices offered to help Nono,
which they did substantially, if subduing Blackie were the matter in
question. Two of them took him in their arms and held him firmly,
while Nono was ordered to tell honestly how that stylish little pig
came into his possession. Nono said simply that it was given to him,
and then hurried to tell the story of his errand. He was afraid of the
rough, dirty fellows, who had a wild, reckless look about them; and
they so interrupted him by loud laughs unpleasant to hear, that Nono
got confused, and really gav