d courage seemed to come with them,
for the sick King grew stronger when they prayed or sang beside him, and
the sad Queen took heart, and confessed her sins to them, begging them
to tell her what to do, since selfish splendor brought neither
happiness, love, nor honor.

"Repent, and undo the wrong you have done," answered one Brother,
boldly.

"But the Princes are lost or dead, and my people hate me," sighed the
poor Queen.

"God has taken better care of the motherless boys than you did, and they
will come back when it is time. Do you pity and help your people. Make
them love and trust you; then you will be safe and happy, and your
kingdom glorious," said the other Brother in his gentle voice.

"I will, I will!" cried the Queen, while repentant tears fell on her
cloth-of-gold mantle, which was not dimmed by the salt drops, but seemed
to shine the brighter for them.

Then she took counsel with the Brothers; and while Plush nursed and
cheered the old father, Purple helped his stepmother to win the
confidence of her people by giving bread and money generously, building
better houses for them, making wiser laws, and ruling with mercy and
justice, till peace came back and the danger of rebellion was over,--for
kindness conquers all things.

The Princesses at first objected to these changes, and were angry with
the new-comers for preaching self-denial, humility, and simplicity; but
the monks made them so beautiful by their persuasive words and lovely
lives that soon these royal girls, as well as all their ladies, began to
see how selfish and frivolous their days had been and to long for better
things.

It took time to teach them to freely put away their fine clothes, forget
their luxurious habits, and heartily enjoy good books, wise society,
real charity, and all the sweet, simple duties, pleasures, and lessons
which make life happy and death peaceful when it comes to kings as well
as beggars.

Slowly the beautiful work went on. The old father seemed to wake up and
wonder why he had been wasting time in dreams. It was too late now for
him to rule; he had not strength enough, and he vainly longed for his
brave boys. The Queen sat alone on the throne, forgiven and loved, and
might have been happy if the thought of the lost Princes had not haunted
her till she was so full of remorse and sorrow she resolved to go into a
convent and do penance for her sins. But who should reign in her place?
The King was too old and fe