CHAPTER II.

 

THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH.

CROSS CORNERS

AS she said this Cowslip stirred in her
+ sleep, and a few moments afterwards
opened her blue eyes.

“You are rested, are you not?”
sud Mrs. Steadfast in her firm but
gentle tone.

“ Yes, I feel ever so much better,”
replied Cowslip cheerfully. ‘‘ Where
am I though? I don’t seem quite to

remember, anything.”

Then she looked round the pretty little sea-
like room, and memory came back to her.

“ Now I know all about it,” she said, jump-

/ es ing to her feet as she spoke.

“Clover and I are on our way to the Blue Moun-
tains. We have begun our journey, and you are taking care of us.
You look very kind; I should lke to stay with you in this little
cottage, and to sleep in this sweet little room for several days.”

“You must not do that,” said Mrs. Steadfast. “The King of the
country to which you are going‘does not like children to linger on the
road. Here is a little verse,’ she continued, ‘ which the King likes
all children who are coming on this journey to say over to themselves.

  
  

“T must not linger on the road,
For I have far to go,
And I should like to reach the goal,
Before the sun gets low.”