1.] THE LOST PRINCE. 67

 

being the eldest, was, according to the fashion of
those barbarous times, entitled to speak first: ‘we
bring you your vanquished enemy, and place his life
at your disposal,’

Both sisters clasped their hands in speechless
gratitude, and then, when they found their voices,
both exclaimed at once, ‘Oh, noble Kings! can you
make him restore our brother ?’

‘Dear ladies, said the River King, ‘that is
already done. Come forth, Prince Merry.’

Scarcely had he uttered the words, when a young
and singularly handsome youth came forward, in whom
the sisters both instinctively recognised their long-lost
brother, and immediately rushed to embrace him,
for which he appeared to be perfectly prepared.

‘Oh! where have you been all these long years ?”
they exclaimed both together, and fell to hugging
and kissing him again, before they could possibly re-
ceive an answer.

‘Let me explain to you what we have discovered,’
rejoined the King of the Islands, ‘and all the more
so because it may incline your tender hearts to show
some mercy to your unfortunate captive. It is true
that the Giant did what Rindelgrover has already told
you. He enticed the boy away from his nurse, prin-
cipally, I believe, for the sake of his diamond-set
girdle, and carried him off to his own country. How-
ever, when there, he conceived so great an affection for
the young Prince that he determined to adopt him as
his heir. Accordingly, he had him educated by the
best tutors he could procure, and has invariably

treated him with the greatest kindness, excepting
F2