the
interior of a convent kitchen, and instead of mortals in old dresses
doing the work, there are beautiful white-winged angels. One puts the
kettle on the fire, and one is lifting up a pail of water, and one is at
the kitchen dresser reaching up for plates.'

Pauline smiled.

'That is it exactly. How can anything we do be common when we remember
our inheritance? You call me Princess, out of love, little one, but I am
a princess in reality, for my Father is a King. Let me give you a good
word which your father gave me long ago. "If you cannot realize your
Ideal, you can at least idealize your Real." I have been trying to do it
ever since.'

'That is just like papa,' said Muriel, with a proud smile. 'He says you
are "pure gold," princess.'

'Did Rich--did your father say that?' cried Pauline, and Muriel looked
up to see a soft flush in her face, while her eyes shone. 'The King's
daughter is all glorious within,' she repeated slowly, 'her clothing is
of wrought gold.' Then she chanted in her clear, triumphant voice:--

'"They have clean robes,
White robes;
White robes are waiting for me!"

'Ah! little one, "the court dress of heaven differs somewhat from that
of earth."'

'But, princess,' said Muriel wistfully, 'farm work and cooking and
washing dishes over and over--it seems such drudgery.'

A great light broke over her face, and she cried in a low, exultant
tone:--

'"Blessed be Drudgery!" Christ bore it for thirty years, why should I
mind for forty-nine? I have only to wait a little now for the "fulness
of joy" and "pleasures for evermore."'

Muriel threw her arms about her and kissed her softly.

'Then our princess will be at home,' she whispered, 'in the Palace of
the King.'

* * * * *

TURNBULL AND SPEARS, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCESS IN CALICO***

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