TWILIGHT LAND

By-and-bye they came to the riverside and to a flight
of steps, and there was a little frail boat without sail or
oars.

The tall man in black beckoned towards the boat, and
Beppo knew that he and the princess were to enter it.

As soon as Beppo had helped the princess into the boat
the tall man thrust it out into the stream with his foot,
and the boat drifted away from the shore and out into the
river, and then around and around. Then it floated off
down the stream.

It floated on and on, and the sun set and the moon
rose.

Beppo looked at the princess, and he thought he had
never seen any one so beautiful in all his life. It was all
like a dream, and he hoped he might never awaken. But
the princess sat there weeping and weeping, and said
nothing.

The night fell darker and darker, but still Beppo sat
looking at the princess. Her face was as white as silver
in the moonlight. The smell of the flower-gardens came
across the river. The boat floated on and on until by-
and-bye it drifted to the shore again and among the river
reeds, and there it stopped, and Beppo carried the prin-
cess ashore.

“Listen,” said the princess. ‘Do you know who I
am?”

“No,” said Beppo, “I do not.”

“Tam the princess,” said she, “the king’s niece; and
by rights I should be queen of this land.”

Beppo could not believe his ears.

“Tt is true that I am married to you,” said she, “ but
never shall you be my husband until you are king.”

126