THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 19

Here Mrs. Steadfast paused.
“The end of this verse particularly pleases the King,” she said.
Then she continued softly—

‘““T may not stay,
But will you not, oh, will you not come too?
My home is very beautiful,
And there is room for you.”

“JT don’t quite understand the last part,” said Cowslip. “Am I
to ask other children to join me?”

“ All true children of the IGing try to get others to joim them,”
said Mrs. Steadfast. ‘“ Now, I must not preach any more. Jump up
and eat your bread and milk. I want you and your brother to go on
as far as you can to-day.”

So Cowslip ate the wonderful bread and milk, and felt as Clover
had done before her: every scrap of fatigue left her.

She now longed to resume her journey, and after bidding kind
Mrs. Steadfast good-bye, the two children started down the narrow
path which led direct from the cottage in the direction where the
Mountains were showing through a soft blue mist.

They walked on for some little time. The sun was partly hidden
by clouds, so the heat was not so great as they had feared.

Now and then they spoke of Primrose and Buttercup, and
wondered if they had yet started and what time they would reach
Mrs. Stead fast’s cottage ; but as the moments passed on, a certain satis-
faction, which they could scarcely account for, took possession of
their little hearts. They were not fearful about the brother and
sister who were left behind, for something seemed to tell them that
the King would take care of them, and that they would in the end
reach the Blue Mountains in safety.

At last, some time about noon, they came to a part of the road
where two paths met.

“This must be the Cross Corners,” exclaimed Cowslip. ‘“ Now, I
do wonder which is the way to the Mountains. Both these roads
seem to lead there, don’t they ?”

B2