wanted to turn him out for an impudent impostor, and the prime-minister said he ought to be put to death for high-treason.

"Fairyfoot wished himself safe in the forest again, or even keeping the sickly sheep; but the queen, being a prudent woman, said

"I pray your majesty to notice what fine feet this boy has. There may be some truth in his story. For the sake of our only daughter, I will choose two maids who talk the least of all our train, and my chamberlain, who is the most discreet officer in our household. Let them go with the princess: who knows but our sorrow may be lessened?'

"After some persuasion the king consented, though all his councillors advised the contrary. So the two silent maids, the discreet chamberlain, and her fawn, which would not stay behind, were sent with Princess Maybloom, and they all set out after dinner. Fairyfoot had hard work guiding them along the track of the ground-ivy. The maids and the chamberlain did not like the brambles and rough roots of the forest-they thought it hard to eat berries and sleep in hollow trees; but the Princess went on with good courage, and at last they reached the grove of rose-trees, and the spring bordered with lilies.

"The chamberlain washed-and though his hair had been grey, and his face wrinkled, the young courtiers envied his beauty for years after. The maids washed-and from that day they were esteemed the fairest in all the palace. Lastly, the princess washed also-it could make her no fairer, but the moment her feet touched the water they grew less, and when she had washed and dried them three times, they were as small and finelyshaped as Fairyfoot's own. There was great joy among them, but the boy said sorrowfully

"Oh! if there had been a well in the world to make my feet large, my father and mother would not have cast me off, nor sent me to live among the shepherds.'

"Cheer up your heart,' said the Princess Maybloom; if you want large feet, there is a well in this forest that will do it. Last summer time, I came with my father and his foresters to see a great cedar cut down, of which he meant to make a money chest. While they were busy with the cedar, I saw a bramble branch covered with berries. Some were ripe and some were green, but it was the longest bramble that ever grew; for the sake of the berries, I went on and on to its root, which grew hard by a muddy-looking well, with banks of dark green

"Royal pri:

because your country that's past I have b

mine grow, to 1: fountain that w. than ever they were you leave to come wa your maids that are the most prudent of it would grievously nightingales to make "When the princes joy in spite of her la maids brought Fair queen, where they sa the courtiers paying The lords were very ragged, bare-footed 18 and the ladies thou have gone mad; but reverence, told his me and offered to set ou day. At first the king could be any use in great physicians had courtiers laughed F

the deepest part of the forest. The day n and dry, and my feet were sore with the ground, so I took off my scarlet shoes, and

my feet in the well; but as I washed they arger every minute, and nothing could ever them less again. I have seen the bramble y: it is not far off, and as you have shown Fair Fountain, I will show you the g Well.'

rose Fairyfoot and Princess Maybloom, nt together till they found the bramble, and where its root grew, hard by the muddywell, with banks of dark green moss in the dell of the forest. Fairyfoot sat down to ut at that minute he heard a sound of and knew it was the fairies going to their ground.

my feet grow large,' said the boy to himself, all I dance with them?' So, rising quickly, the Princess Maybloom by the hand. The lowed them; the maids and the chamfollowed it, and all followed the music the forest. At last they came to the green. Robin Goodfellow welcomed the for Fairyfoot's sake, and gave every one a the fairies' wine. So they danced there from

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