g
for the old man to give him leave, as the Princess approached he called
out:

"Seven times seven leagues over hill and dale have I ridden, most
gracious Princess--and I have waited here for you for seven days. Oh,
grant me permission to tell you of my quest."

Then the gentle voice said:

"Have you paid your fine, oh, bold stranger?"

"Yes," said Sir Hunny Bee.

"Throw it from the arbour that I may see it," said the Princess.

So the old man took the silver bell from his hat and flung it out on to
a flower-bed near.

Immediately it began to grow and blossom till it was many feet high.

"The Princess smiles on it," said the old man, "tell her your mission
speedily."

"Gracious lady," said Sir Hunny Bee from within the arbour, "the King
of a far kingdom has sent me to beg you to come back with me to his
kingdom, and smile on his back-yard that it may become a garden,--even
as when you smiled on my poor bell it grew and blossomed."

"Oh, stranger," answered the Princess, "go home and tell your master
that through the air must he send yet another messenger to fetch me,
ere I will come to him. Come forth now and pluck the flower that
sprang from your bell, and take it to your master in token that I speak
truth."

So Sir Hunny Bee came forth from the arbour to pluck the flower, and
his eyes fell on the glory of the Princess Mary Radiant.

She was dressed all in gold, and her hair was gold, and her glowing
smile was more beautiful than words can tell. Sir Hunny Bee was
dazzled with the sight of her, and, kneeling, kissed her hand.

"Pluck your flower and go," she said, "and if your master will send yet
another messenger, I will come."

So Sir Hunny Bee plucked the flower, and, mounting his horse, rode away
the way he had come. But when he stopped to look at the flower he had
plucked, he found it was only quite an ordinary Canterbury bell!

The King was waiting on the steps of the back-yard when Sir Hunny Bee
approached. It looked drearier than ever. Half a dozen gardeners were
watering a muddy-looking stone with patent water, while the King looked
on. When he saw Sir Hunny Bee he said:

"Have you brought her?"

"No, your Majesty," said the Knight, "but she sent you this flower, in
token that if you will send her another messenger through the air, she
will come. Oh, your Majesty, she is more beautiful than day, and her
garden is Paradise itself!"

"Don't waste time talking," said the King. "Se