long before any buds appeared.

"If no flowers come we shall know that we are not the right gardeners,
though we _are_ royal," said Purple, as he watered the bed one day.

"Then we will go on singing till we get round the world, brother. By
that time we shall be men and can fight for our kingdom," answered
Plush, weeding busily in among the low plants that spread far and wide
with large tightly folded buds on all of them.

"Our old neighbor, the herb-woman, is very curious about this plot of
ours, and wants to know what we are going to raise here. I told her we
did not know, but when the flowers came she might see them, because she
is very wise and this may be some new herb which will cure the sick.
That would be a pleasant thing to do, even if we never made a fortune."

"Indeed it would! I'd rather make people happy than be a king, and so
would you, brother."

As the boys spoke a very sweet perfume filled the air, and all the
leaves rustled softly as if the south wind stirred them. Then everything
was still again, and the larks twittered high above their heads as if
they were telling some good news to the beautiful blue world far above
the clouds.

Next morning, when the Princes went to their garden, lo! it was all in
bloom, and lay there like a gold and purple carpet fit for a king. The
flowers were pansies, but such as were never seen before; for these
were very large and all alike, looking like little faces, half sad, half
cheerful, as the yellow and the dark leaves framed them in. They were
very sweet, and as they nodded in the wind seemed to be whispering
something to one another so interesting that the lads longed to know the
pretty story they were telling.

"What can we do with them, and how can they bring us good luck?" said
the elder brother, looking seriously down at the lovely things.

"Enjoy them first, then sell them in little posies, and so make money;
for they are the finest ever seen, and people will be glad to buy them,"
answered the younger, as he began to gather the great beauties at his
feet.

"So we can, and keep the seed, and go on planting and selling till we
are rich. It is slow work, but we learned to be patient in the tower,
and will wait to see what fortune heart's-ease is to bring us," said
Prince Purple, going down on his knees before a group of lovely flowers,
who bent as if glad to be gathered by such gentle hands.

"Heyday! what have we here? Surely you are fairy gardeners, m