jured leg in the air, and
limping on the remaining three. At the sight of her the doves rose and
circled above her head. She smiled and threw into the air handful after
handful of cake and bread crumbs. In their eagerness the doves alighted
on her shoulders, on the rim of the basket, and even on the broad
back of the dog, who was too sober to give attention to this seeming
indignity. He kept his eye on his mistress's skirts, moved when she
moved, and stopped when she stopped. A gray-white cloud enveloped them.

The Marshal, with a curious sensation in his heart, observed this
exquisite, living picture. He was childless; and though he was by
nature undemonstrative, he was very fond of this youth. Her cheeks were
scarlet, her rosy lips were parted in excitement, and her eyes glistened
with pleasure. With all her twenty years, she was but ten in fancy;
a woman, yet a child, unlettered in worldly wit, wise in her love of
nature. Not until she had thrown away the last of the crumbs did she
notice the Marshal. He rose and bowed.

"Good morning, your Highness. I am very much interested in your court.
And do you hold it every morning?"

"Even when it rains," she said, smiling. "I am so glad to see you; I
wanted to talk to you last night, but I could not find the opportunity.
Let me share the bench with you."

And youth and age sat down together. The bulldog planted himself in the
middle of the path and blinked at his sworn enemy. The Marshal had no
love for him, and he was well aware of it; at present, an armistice.

The princess gazed at the rollicking waters, at her doves, thence into
the inquiring gray eyes of the old soldier.

"Do you remember," she said, "how I used to climb on your knees, ever so
long ago, and listen to your fairy stories?"

"Eh! And is it possible that your Highness remembers?" wrinkles of
delight gathering in his cheeks. "But why `ever so long ago'? It was but
yesterday. And your Highness remembers!"

"I am like my father; I never forget!" She looked toward the waters
again. "I can recall only one story. It was about a princess who lost
all her friends through the offices of a wicked fairy. I remember it
because it was the only story you told me that had a sad ending. It was
one of Andersen's. Her father and mother died, and the moment she was
left alone her enemies set to work and toppled over her throne. She was
cast out into the world, having no friend but a dog; but the dog always
found som