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Rh bubbled up in her mind that possibly I might be able to counsel her so wisely that an end would come to all her sorrow.

"Well, wise little baron," she murmured anxiously, "what seest thou? Is it very large? In what part is it? Is it black as night or some color less fatal?"

"Take courage, fair princess," said I, "it is very small and lies just beneath the bow on the left side. Nor is it black, but reddish rather, as if a single drop of blood from the veins of thy far distant ancestors had outlived them these thousands of years and hardened there to tell whence thy people came." The princess wept tears of joy upon hearing these comforting words.

"If it had been black," she whispered "I would have lain me down in this bed of violets and never risen more till my people had come to bear me to my grave in the silent burial chamber— unvisited by the River of Light."

At this sad outbreak Bulger whined piteously and licked the princess's hands as he looked up at her with his dark eyes radiant with sympathy.

She was greatly cheered by this message of comfort, and it moved me, too, by its heartiness.

"List, fair princess," said I gravely. "I own the task is not a light one, but hope for the best. I would that we had more time, but as thou knowest Queen Galaxa's heart will soon run down, therefore must we act with despatch as well as wisdom. But first of all must I speak with the queen and gain her consent to act for thee in this matter."

"That, I fear me, she will never grant," moaned Crystallina. "However, thou art so much wiser than I—do as best seems to thee."

"The next thing to be done, fair princess," I added solemnly, "is to show thy heart boldly and fearlessly to thy people."

"Nay, little baron," she exclaimed, rising to her feet, "that may not be, that may not be, for know that our law doth make it treason itself for one of our people to look through a person of royal blood. Oh, no, oh, no, little baron, that may never be!"