They examined, with him, the interior of the cathedral, and then
appeared the prince for whom George had built the church, and to him the
architects explained how solid and well proportioned was the dome which
had been finished a few hours before. The noble prince listened with
comprehension; after he was satisfied he drew George to his breast and
said: "I thank, you my friend. Despite your youth I entrusted you with
a great undertaking and you have more than fulfilled my most sanguine
expectations. At my age we count it gain not to be disappointed, and
the day when our expectations are not only fulfilled, but surpassed we
number among our festivals. Your work will be an ornament to the city
and state, and will insure you undying fame. Take this from a man who
wishes you well."

The prince took the golden chain from his own neck, hung it about
George's, and continued:

"Art is easy, some say; others, that it is difficult. Both are right. It
must be delightful and ennobling to design such a work but the carrying
out must be laborious and attended with many perplexities. I can see
that you have found it so, for only yesterday I remarked with pleasure
the youthful glint of your brown hair and today,--no doubt while you
were superintending the laying of the dome's crown,--a lock of hair
above your left temple has turned grey, Master Peregrinus."

George reeled at this sudden and unexpected fulfilment of the dearest
wish of his soul. He had gone out into the world under this name of
Peregrinus and had never betrayed the fact that he was a prince's son.
For several years his heart had been overflowing with love for the
daughter of the prince and he had known that she reciprocated his
affection sincerely, yet for the sake of his own family he had battled
bravely with his passion and had borne his heartache and longing in
silence.

Proofs had not been wanting to show hint how devoted the prince was to
him, and if he had been able to say to his patron, "I am a Greylock,"
no doubt his lord would gladly have accorded his daughter's hand to
him. George had repeated this to himself a thousand times, but he had
remained firm, had kept his counsel and had not ceased to hope that by
righteous energy and industry he might accomplish the "great and good
task" which had been required of him in Misdral's cave. When his grey
lock grew, the fairy Clementine's fish had said to him, then would he
know that he had achieved something great a