ke
sure he was not dreaming.

When he had taken a perfumed bath and obediently put on the fine clothing
that was provided for him, he was summoned to a splendid room where the
princess awaited him, surrounded by her ladies. She was scarcely more than
a child, herself, and the boy wondered how she liked to have so many
critical personages about, to watch her every action.

As he entered the room, every eye was turned upon him, and the Lady
Gertrude, especially, put up her glass in wonder that this handsome lad
with the serious, fearless eyes, who seemed so at ease in the silks and
satins he now wore, could be the peasant who had jumped on the step of the
coach.

The princess looked upon him with favor and smiled. "We are ready now," she
said, "to hear what plan you propose for the rescue of the golden dog."

"Then will your highness kindly ask these ladies to leave us?" returned
Gabriel.

"Ah, to be sure. I forgot your wish that the communication should be
private."

Then the princess gave orders that every one should leave the room, and her
companions obeyed reluctantly, the Lady Gertrude above all. She remained
close to the outside of the closed door, ready to fly within at the
slightest cry from her mistress; for the Lady Gertrude could not quite
believe that a boy who had ever worn a calico shirt was a safe person to
leave alone with royalty.

For a few minutes there was only a low buzz of voices behind the closed
door, then a merry laugh from the princess assailed Lady Gertrude's ears.
It was the first time she had laughed since the disappearance of the golden
dog.

Before Gabriel slipped between the sheets that night in his luxurious
chamber, he took the little brown book which had been folded away with his
shabby clothing. His heart glowed with gratitude to God for the help he had
received that day, and when he opened the page it was as if a loving voice
spoke:--

"_Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee; because
he trusteth in thee_."

"Dear God, I trust in thee!" he murmured; then he climbed into the soft bed
and slept dreamlessly.

The following morning, the king and queen having given consent to their
daughter's request, two children drove out of the palace grounds in a plain
black carriage. The coachman drove to a confectioner's near the centre of
the town, where the horses stopped. A tall man in dark clothes, who was
also in the carriage, stepped down first and handed