cause of this
mourning. She hastened on and was soon recognised and welcomed with
shouts of joy. Her sister hearing the cheers ran out and embraced the
wanderer, with tears of happiness, telling her that the shock of her
disappearance had been so terrible that their mother had only survived
it a few days. Since then the younger princess had worn the crown, which
she now resigned to her sister to whom it by right belonged.

But the elder wished to refuse it, and would only accept the crown on
condition that her sister should share in all the power.

The first acts of the new queen were to do honour to the memory of her
dear mother and to shower every mark of generous affection on her
sister. Then, being still very grieved at the loss of her little dog,
she had a careful search made for him in every country, and when nothing
could be heard of him she was so grieved that she offered half her
kingdom to whoever should restore him to her.

Many gentlemen of the court, tempted by the thought of such a reward,
set off in all directions in search of the dog; but all returned
empty-handed to the queen, who, in despair, announced that since life
was unbearable without her little dog, she would give her hand in
marriage to the man who brought him back.

The prospect of such a prize quickly turned the court into a desert,
nearly every courtier starting on the quest. Whilst they were away the
queen was informed one day that a very ill-looking man wished to speak
with her. She desired him to be shown into a room where she was sitting
with her sister.

On entering her presence he said that he was prepared to give the queen
her little dog if she on her side was ready to keep her word.

The princess was the first to speak. She said that the queen had no
right to marry without the consent of the nation, and that on so
important an occasion the general council must be summoned. The queen
could not say anything against this statement; but she ordered an
apartment in the palace to be given to the man, and desired the council
to meet on the following day.

Next day, accordingly, the council assembled in great state, and by the
princess's advice it was decided to offer the man a large sum of money
for the dog, and should he refuse it, to banish him from the kingdom
without seeing the queen again. The man refused the price offered and
left the hall.

The princess informed the queen of what had passed, and the queen
approved of all,