THE CURSE

 

THE WAY OUT 147

upon her cheek and the downcast of her
eyes showed that she understood and hardly
disliked the sentiments to which the Prince
had given utterance.

‘Hush!’ she said again, ‘you must not
say such things here. In this country it is
considered a great mniisfortune to be hump-
less, and J am regarded as a most unlucky
creature, stricken with a deformity which
prevents my holding up my head among my
people as becomes the daughter of my
father,’

‘Then,’ replied the Prince, ‘we have a
fellow-feeling which should at once make us
friends. In sy country a hump is thought
to be as great a misfortune as its absence
appears to be held in yours. We have each
a burden to bear, and can pity each other.
But surely in your own heart of hearts you
cannot desire a hump ?’

The Princess blushed again, and, as if
desirous to evade the question, begged the
Prince to tell her further particulars about
himself, and the object of his visit to the
Golden Mountains. It may be thought by
many wise and prudent persons that our
hero showed some indiscretion in consenting