1] THE LOST. PRINCE. 21

 

since it must be of their own free will that they
encountered the dangers which might possibly be
before them. Like dutiful children they quickly
obeyed, especially as it was getting very late,and was
already beyond their usual bed-time.

Next morning, however, found them exactly in
the same frame of mind, determined to face anything
for the sake of the object in view. Accordingly, in
the course of the day, six acorns were carefully
gathered from the old oak, and the sisters, not
without sundry wry faces, each ate one before going
to bed. This process they repeated upon the second
and third days, and the following morning prepared
to fulfil their appointed task.

As no particular time had been fixed by the
worthy Rindelgrover for their excursion, the Queen
kept her daughters with her until after luncheon, when,
having been duly fortified by cutlets, sweetbreads, and
light claret, the Princesses sallied forth, walked down
the garden, one on each side of their mother, and
having reached the great oak under which the latter
had been sitting upon the occasion of the eventful
visit of the Dwarf, bade the Queen a tender farewell,
and boldly entered the forest.

The afternoon was warm, but the luxuriant
foliage of the large trees kept off the sun, and
rendered the walk rather pleasant than otherwise to
the Princesses. They walked for some distance
without any adventure whatever. All was silent ;
the birds seemed disinclined to sing—the animals
were doubtless couching in the fern and shady places
—there was scarcely a breath of air stirring, and