The disappearance of the Prince

           Aheavydrowsinesspresentlyfelluponthetwocomrades.TheKingsaid—

           "Removetheserags."—meaninghisclothing.

           Hendondisapparelledtheboywithoutdissentorremark,tuckedhimupinbed,thenglancedabouttheroom,sayingtohimself,ruefully,"Hehathtakenmybedagain,asbefore—marry,whatshallIdo?"ThelittleKingobservedhisperplexity,anddissipateditwithaword.Hesaid,sleepily—

           "Thouwiltsleepathwartthedoor,andguardit."Inamomentmorehewasoutofhistroubles,inadeepslumber.

           "Dearheart,heshouldhavebeenbornaking!"mutteredHendon,admiringly;"heplayeththeparttoamarvel."

           Thenhestretchedhimselfacrossthedoor,onthefloor,sayingcontentedly—

           "Ihavelodgedworseforsevenyears;‘twouldbebutillgratitudetoHimabovetofindfaultwiththis."

           Hedroppedasleepasthedawnappeared.Towardnoonherose,uncoveredhisunconsciousward—asectionatatime—andtookhismeasurewithastring.TheKingawoke,justashehadcompletedhiswork,complainedofthecold,andaskedwhathewasdoing.

           "‘Tisdone,now,myliege,"saidHendon;"Ihaveabitofbusinessoutside,butwillpresentlyreturn;sleepthouagain—thouneedestit.There—letmecoverthyheadalso—thou’ltbewarmthesooner."

           TheKingwasbackindreamlandbeforethisspeechwasended.