es] THE LOST PRINCE. 19

 

to call you anything at all, if you will only cause the
realisation of the hopes to which you have given birth.’

“I see,’ replied the little man, ‘that I must explain
myself. Macklethorpe is the Dwarf of the Meadows
—a poor, dandelion-crowned fool, with whom I am
not on terms, for reasons which JI need not now ex-
plain. Z£ am the Dwarf of the Forest, and a vastly
superior being, as you may suppose from what you
see. I would tell you all I know about your son
with pleasure, if I were not bound by an oath of
fearful import not to do so. But if you want to
know, and to recover your lost boy, there is only one
thing to be done. Let your two daughters eat an
acorn apiece from off the tree under which you have
been sitting for three nights, just before they let down
their back hair on going to bed. On the next morn-
ing they will understand the language of the forest
creatures. Then let them walk boldly into the forest
without any attendants, and you will see what you
will see!’

With these words the Dwarf made another low
bow to the Queen, and then walking up to the gate
which opened into the forest, passed through it, and
disappeared in the most natural manner possible.

The Queen remained plunged in deep ‘thought.
What did it all mean? Could she trust to this
little gentleman, who called himself ‘Rindelgrover’?
Would it be safe for her daughters to go alone into the
forest ? She pondered over the matter for some little
time in great doubt as to what it would be best to do;
and at last resolved that she would go and consult

the King, for in those days wives were not above
c2