Page:An orchard princess (IA orchardprincess00barbiala).pdf/23

 down into a little glade through which a tiny brook tumbled. Beyond it the orchard began again; but here was an unplanted space of lush grass and forget-me-nots and violets and—and

Miles turned wonderingly to the dog.

"The Princess!" he whispered.

Bistre wagged his tail in a way which said as plainly as you like, "Of course; who else?"

At a little distance, just beyond the blossom-laden branches of an apple-tree, stood an easel, from the top of which hung a blue sun-bonnet. On the easel was a canvas, a confused blur of pink and green. Before the canvas, brush in hand, sat a girl. The shadows had travelled eastward since she had placed her stool, and a flood of sunlight was upon her, tingeing her white