1] THE LOST PRINCE. 3

 

As this soldier chanced, by the merest accident, to be
a particular friend of the nursery-maid, nothing was
more natural than that they should stop and converse
together. In fact, they sat down upon a bench under
one of the big forest trees, and chatted away so much
to their mutual satisfaction that the moments slipped
by without either of them taking any account of time.
Suddenly, however, the loud sound of the palace dress-
ing bell fell upon their ears, and they became aware
of the fact that they had greatly outstayed the limit
of time allowed for the young Prince’s walk. Up they
started in some consternation, which was enormously
increased when they found that Prince Merry was no
- longer with them. The nursery-maid called him in
vain, then the soldier raised his louder voice, but with
a similar result, and they both commenced a hurried
and eager search in every direction. But their search
was fruitless. The young Prince had disappeared.

In vain they made the forest re-echo with his
name ; there was no answer, and a silence reigned
around which struck deep terror into their trembling
hearts. They stayed as long as they dared, and at
last returned to the palace in a dreadful state of alarm.
The nursery-maid rushed frantically to the nurse, told
her tale with incoherent vehemence, and went into a
violent fit of hysterics, from which she was only re-
covered by a liberal application of cold water.

It was some time before anyone dared to inform
the King of the loss of the son to whom he was
so devotedly attached. His Majesty was playing
billiards with the Lord Chamberlain, and as the latter

took very good care to be beaten, was in high good
B2