A WREATH OF WHITE ROSES. 123

When she had entered the tent, however—which was a very
poor place’ to look at—and had taken some milk out of a china bowl,
and the lady, who was all dressed in grey, and whose face looked
old and weary, for all the kindness which shone out of her eyes,
had bathed the little girl’s forehead and hands with warm water,
she felt better and began to speak eagerly.

“I must tell you my story,” she said—<I am sure you are
good—you are not like Conyolvulus.”

“Don’t speak to me of Convolvulus,” said Patience with a little
shiver; “she is an enemy of my Lord the King.”

“But I must speak to you about her,” said Primrose, “ for
Buttercup is with her—little Buttercup, the youngest of us all—
mother’s pet. I couldn’t go to mother—I couldn’t really, if Butter-
cup were not with me.”

“T know all about it,” said Patience. “ We won’t talk the matter
over just at present, for to think of Convolvulus and of that other
terrible place, Castle Dangerous, makes me act contrary to my name.
I cease to be patient, and that is a sin against my Lord the King.
Dear little Primrose, you shall sleep here to-night, and in the
morning I will show you the path which leads to the cottage
where the wicked Convolvulus lives, and I will tell you how you
may best rescue Buttercup.”

“The wicked lady hasn’t hurt him?” asked Primrose.

“I can set your heart at rest on that point,’ said Patience,
“Buttercup is not hurt. Now eat up this nice strengthening
bread and milk, and then you must lie down on my bed and
sleep peacefully until morning.”

“T want to ask you one more question,” said Primrose. “Why
is it so very, very hard to get to the King’s Country, and why is
the road so full of danger?”

“Alas! my child,” said Patience, “what else can you expect?
Did the King ever ask you to travel by ¢dis road to the Blue
Mountains? Did he ever tell you anything about the Rose Moun-
tains? You must expect the road to be full of danger when you
don’t travel on the King’s highway.”