172 PRINCE FILDERKIN

ing it each time in the descent, and then
clasped Amarylla in his arms, whilst the
Queen fell fainting into those of her son, and
wept for very joy as she came to upon the
application of hartshorn and vinegar. The
Lord High Treasurer leaped high in the air
with delight, but unluckily descending upon
the gouty toe of the keeper of the King’s
flannel - waistcoats, was promptly knocked
down by that functionary, and subsided into
a gloomy silence.

With this one exception everybody loudly
proclaimed their joy, and when the Prince had
told his whole story to his parents, the happi-
nessand gratitudeof thelatterknewno bounds.
They received their new daughter with a
warmth and heartiness which greatly pleased
her, and indeed they were well repaid for
their kindness, for Amarylla proved a treasure ©
greater than any other which could have been
gathered on the Golden Mountains.

It is needless to add that she and her
husband lived many years in uninterrupted
happiness, and that neither of them ever
repented the step which they had taken.
Now and then, indeed, a feeling came over
both of them that they would like to have