of you to come, Miss Hermy," said this small, faded
woman, and Ravenslee thought her very voice sounded faded, so repressed
and dismally soft was it. "I wouldn't have had the face t' send for you,
Miss Hermy, only Hazel calls an' calls, like she's doin' now--listen!"

And sure enough from somewhere near by a small voice reached them,
pitifully faint and thin: "Hermy dear, come t' me--oh, Hermy dear!"

"She allus lays an' calls like that lately when her poor hip's worse 'n
usual," sighed Mrs. Bowker. "And your gentleman friend--would he like t'
see her too?"

"Thank you, I should," answered Ravenslee in his soft, pleasant voice.

"Oh, Mrs. Bowker, this is Mr. Geoffrey," said Hermione a trifle
hurriedly, "he came with me to--to--"

"Be presented to the princess, if she will honour me," he added.

"Ah!" said Mrs. Bowker, looking up at him with a faded smile, "Hazel
told me you had a pretty voice, sir, an' I guess I know what she meant.
She sets out on the stairs when she's well enough an' has often seen
ye."

"Hermy, dear, come t' me--oh, Hermy dear!" called the little voice.

"Yes, go in, my dear, you know y' way, I guess," sighed Mrs. Bowker,
passing a small, worn hand across her faded eyes. "There's five dozen
more collar-bands I must stitch an' buttonhole t'night--so go your ways,
my dear." So saying, Mrs. Bowker went back to her labour, which was very
hard labour indeed, while Hermione led the way into a tiny room, where,
on a small, neat truckle-bed covered by a faded quilt, a small, pale
child lay fading fast. But at sight of her visitors, two big, brown eyes
grew bigger yet, and her pale, thin little cheeks flushed eagerly.

"Oh, Hermy dear!" she cried, clasping frail hands, "oh, Hermy, you've
brought him--you've brought me our fairy prince at last!"

Now what was there in these childish words to cause Hermione's eyes to
droop so suddenly as she took the bottle from Ravenslee's hand, or her
rounded cheek to flush so painfully as she stooped to meet the child's
eager kiss, or, when she turned away to measure a dose of the medicine,
to be such an unconscionable time over it? Observing all of which,
Ravenslee forthwith saluted the small invalid with a grave bow, battered
hat gracefully flourished.

"It is truly an honour to meet you, princess!" said he, and lifting the
child's frail little hand, he touched it to his lips. Thereafter,
obeying the mute appeal of that hand, he seated himself upon the narrow