n. This time the princess
was to go along. The tall man in black led the way, and Beppo and the
princess followed along the secret passage and up and down the stairs
until at last they came out into the garden again.

And now the evening was beginning to fall.

The man led the way down the garden to the river, and still Beppo and
the princess followed him.

By-and-by they came to the river-side and to a flight of steps, and
there was a little frail boat without sail or oars.

The tall man in black beckoned towards the boat, and Beppo knew that he
and princess were to enter it.

As soon as Beppo had helped the princess into the boat the tall man
thrust it out into the stream with his foot, and the boat drifted away
from the shore and out into the river, and then around and around. Then
it floated off down the stream.

It floated on and on, and the sun set and the moon rose.

Beppo looked at the princess, and he thought he had never seen any one
so beautiful in all his life. It was all like a dream, and he hoped he
might never waken. But the princess sat there weeping and weeping, and
said nothing.

The night fell darker and darker, but still Beppo sat looking at the
princess. Her face was as white as silver in the moonlight. The smell
of the flower-gardens came across the river. The boat floated on and on
until by-and-by it drifted to the shore again and among the river reeds,
and there it stopped, and Beppo carried the princess ashore.

"Listen," said the princess. "Do you know who I am?"

"No," said Beppo, "I do not."

"I am the princess," said she, "the king's niece; and by rights I should
be queen of this land."

Beppo could not believe his ears.

"It is true that I am married to you," said she, "but never shall you be
my husband until you are king."

"King!" said Beppo; "how can I be king?"

"You shall be king," said the princess.

"But the king is everything," said Beppo, "and I am nothing at all."

"Great things come from small beginnings," said the princess; "a big
tree from a little seed."

Some little distance away from the river was the twinkle of a light, and
thither Beppo led the princess. When the two came to it, they found
it was a little hut, for there were fish-nets hanging outside in the
moonlight.

Beppo knocked.

An old woman opened the door. She stared and stared, as well she might,
to see the fine lady in silks and satins with a gold ring upon her
finger, and nobody with h