When he had finished, as if in answer to his unspoken thought, the old man said:
"You are doubtless wondering, my son, about the lovely damsel who abides here with us, and whom you have followed this day to our humble door. But in truth, sir, it is little enough we can tell your ourselves. Whence she comes, we know not, though we have cherished and reared her as our own child. Several years ago we found her on our doorstep, a little laughing maid as fair as ever the sun looked on, and clothed in the softest, richest raiment. Right joyfully we took her in, and she dwelt with us happily day by day, yet never did she say a word by which we might know whose child she was. A king's daughter she must be, or the child of some good spirit. Of late she has spoken much of a change to come in her life, of a Prince's son, and of many other things which we have not understood, but our hearts have been sad within us, fearing lest the girl prophesied her marriage and sep-
