ithin hearing, he did not halt for a moment, or even turn
his head, but trudged onward, saying, "Come along, come along; one
never gets to the end of one's journey if one stops to chatter by the
way."

At length the Prince came up with him, and said in a civil tone, "Pray
can you tell me whither this road leads, and if it will be very long
before I get to some house where I can find rest and food?"

"It leads to a very fine and beautiful castle," replied the other
somewhat doggedly, and still walking on. "I think, if you come along
with me, you will get there in time. I am generally well received
there, and in some sort may call myself the master of the house, so
that those who go with me are generally made welcome by my lady, who,
though she is sometimes a little whimsical, is the most charming
person in the world when she smiles upon me. But you must keep on
steadily with me; for if you stop or turn aside, a thousand to one you
will be lost."

When the Prince found him so communicative, he asked him if they could
not cross one of the meadows to refresh themselves a little, and told
him how he had been tempted to do so just before he saw him.

"Lucky you did not," answered the other; "for those meadows are full
of swamps and quagmires, the groves filled with snakes, and many of
the fruits poisonous. You might have got yourself into such troubles
that not even I could have helped you out of them."

"If it is not improper, may I ask your name?" said the Prince.

"Come along," answered the other, "Names matter little; but if you
want to know mine, it is Perseverance."

Not long after the Prince began to think he saw several tall towers
glittering before him in the distance, with some misty clouds round
about them, which only seemed to make them look the more beautiful.

"What a fine castle!" he exclaimed.

"That is where I am leading you," answered the other; "and the first
prospect is always very charming. But we have some way to go yet, I
can tell you, and not a little to overcome. You would never get there
without me; so come on, and do not be daunted at anything you see."

The Prince soon found that his companion's warning was just. The way
did seem very long; and sometimes, as they went over hill and dale,
the sight of the beautiful castle, which cheered him so much, was
quite shut out from his eyes, and at length, when they were coming
very near it, with nothing but one valley between them and the
buildi