the King's eyes and the
movement of his hand with equal wonder, for the small opening left
between the pillars by the masses of flowers was filled up by a more
lovely form than their eyes had ever beheld.

The child, or girl, had fastened her shining white linen tunic upon her
left shoulder with a large sapphire clasp; her broad golden girdle was
set with a row of sapphires. The long and pointed sleeves of her dress
fell from her shoulders like two white wings. Wreaths of ivy were
twined about her whole figure; in her right hand, which rested on her
bosom, she held a shepherd's staff, wreathed with flowers; her left
hand carried a beautiful crown of wild-flowers and was laid upon the
head of a large shaggy dog, whose neck was likewise surrounded with a
wreath.

The girl looked without fear, but thoughtfully and examiningly, at the
brilliant assembly. For a while the guests stared and waited, and the
maiden stood motionless. Then the King left his seat, went towards her,
and said with a smile:

"Welcome to our feast, if thou art an earthly being. But if--which I
almost believe--thou art the lovely Queen of the Elves--why then, be
welcome too! We will place a throne for thee high above the King's
seat." And with a graceful action he opened both his arms, inviting her
to approach.

With a light and gentle step the maiden crossed the threshold of the
vestibule and, blushing, replied:

"What sweet folly speakest thou, O King! I am no queen. I am Gotho, the
shepherdess. But thou--I see it more by thy clear brow than by thy
diadem--thou art Totila, the King of the Goths, whom they call the
'King of joy.' I have brought flowers for thee and thy lovely bride. I
heard that this feast was to celebrate a betrothal. Gotho has nothing
else to give. I plucked and twined these flowers as I came through the
last meadow. And now, O King, protector of the orphan's right, hear and
help me!"

The King again took his place near Valeria. The maiden stood between
them. Valeria took one of her hands; the King laid his hand upon her
head, and said:

"I swear to protect thee and thy rights by thine own lovely head. Who
art thou, and what is thy desire?"

"Sire, I am the grand-child and child of peasants. I have grown up in
solitude amid the flowers of the Iffinger mountain. I had nothing dear
to me on earth except my brother. He left me to seek thee. And when my
grandfather felt that he was dying, he sent me to thee to find my
brothe