he distance. It was not a
dream!

As she rushed out upon the terrace, she called Moll reprovingly; and, in
an instant, Moll was at her side. The faithful girl had already seen the
hunters and had started a search for Nell; but the revellers had gone
before she could find her.

"What is it, dear Nell?" asked her companion, well out of breath.

"Why did you not call me, cruel girl?" answered Nell, impatiently. "To
miss seeing so many handsome cavaliers! Where is my kerchief?"

Nell leaned over the balustrade and waved wildly to the departing
hunters. A pretty picture she was too, in her white flowing gown,
silvered by the moonlight.

"See, see," she exclaimed to Moll, with wild enthusiasm, "some one waves
back. It may be he, sweet mouse. Heigh-ho! Why don't you wave, Moll?"

Before Moll could answer, a rich bugle-horn rang out across the park.

"The hunters' horn!" cried Nell, gleefully. "Oh, I wish I were a
man--except when one is with me"; and she threw both arms about Moll,
for the want of one better to embrace. She was in her varying mood,
which was one 'twixt the laughter of the lip and the tear in the eye.

"I have lost my brother!" ejaculated some one; but she heard him not.

This laconic speech came from none other than the King, who in a
bantering mood had returned.

"I went one side a tree and pious James t'other; and here I am by
Nelly's terrace once again," he muttered. "Oh, ho! wench!" His eyes had
caught sight of Nell upon the terrace.

He stepped back quickly into the shadow and watched her playfully.

Nell looked longingly out into the night, and sighed heavily. She was at
her wit's end. The evening was waning, and the King, as she thought, had
not come.

"Why do you sigh?" asked Moll, consolingly.

"I was only looking down the path, dear heart," replied Nell, sadly.

"He will come," hopefully suggested Moll, whose little heart sympathized
deeply with her benefactress.

"Nay, sweet," said Nell, and she shook her curls while the moonbeams
danced among them, "he is as false as yonder moon--as changeable of
face."

She withdrew her eyes from the path and they fell upon the King. His
Majesty's curiosity had quite over-mastered him, and he had
inadvertently stepped well into the light. The novelty of hearing
himself derided by such pretty lips was a delicious experience, indeed.

"The King!" she cried, in joyous surprise.

Moll's diplomatic effort to escape at the sight of his Majesty was