"
And youth and age sat down together. The bulldog planted himself
in the middle of the path and blinked at his sworn enemy. The
Marshal had no love for him, and he was well aware of it; at
present, an armistice.
The princess gazed at the rollicking waters, at her doves,
thence into the inquiring gray eyes of the old soldier.
"Do you remember," she said, "how I used to climb on your knees,
ever so long ago, and listen to your fairy stories?"
"Eh! And is it possible that your Highness remembers?" wrinkles
of delight gathering in his cheeks. "But why `ever so long ago'?
It was but yesterday. And your Highness remembers!"
"I am like my father; I never forget!" She looked toward the
waters again. "I can recall only one story. It was about a
princess who lost all her friends through the offices of a
wicked fairy. I remember it because it was the only story you
told me that had a sad ending. It was one of Andersen's. Her
father and mother died, and the moment she was left alone her
enemies set to work and toppled over her throne. She was cast
out into the world, having no friend but a dog; but the dog
always found something to eat, and protected her from giants and
robbers and wolves.
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