Good night, dear little Princess!"
"You'll come again, Prince?" she pleaded, holding up her face to be
kissed, "you'll come again soon?"
"As soon as--Princess Nobody will bring me."
"Good night, Hermy dear; you'll bring our Prince again soon?"
"If you wish, dear," said Hermione, stooping to kiss her in turn.
"Why, Hermy--what makes your cheeks so hot to-night?"
"Are they?" said Hermione, making pretence to test them with the back of
her hand.
"Why, yes," nodded the child, "an' they look so red an'--"
"Of course you believe in fairies, don't you, Princess?" enquired
Ravenslee rather hurriedly.
"Oh, yes, Prince, I often see them in my dreams. They just wait till I'm
asleep, an' then they come an' show themselves. Do you ever see any?"
"Well, your highness, I fancy I have lately, and when fairies are
around, things are sure to happen; wishes get the habit of coming true.
So, little Princess, just go on wishing and dreaming and--watch out!"
Then Ravenslee turned and followed Hermione out upon the dingy landing;
but as he climbed the stair, there went with him the memory of a little
face, very thin and pale, but radiant and all aglow with rapturous hope.
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