“The window!” he cried in a loud voice.  “God save us all!”

He stood staring at the open window; and as he did so the Masked Lady hid her face in her arms upon the Book of Truth before her.  She was softly weeping.

PART IV

ARGUMENT:  EVERYCHILD’S FEET ARE DRAWN TO THE SPOT WHERE THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD LIES.  TIME PASSES.

CHAPTER XX

A SONG IN THE GARDEN

While Everychild and the giant had made their visit to the castle of the cruel king, their companions had remained in the old house at the foot of the hill, and great was their delight when the two who had been absent returned, bringing with them Prince Arthur, toward whom all the children felt immediately drawn.

It was quickly decided that the prince should be allowed to rest before they resumed their journey; and as they were very comfortable where they were, they agreed not to stir until the next day.  They still had an abundance to eat; and besides, they had not yet explored the walled garden, very shady and inviting, which they could see from the kitchen windows.

In the afternoon, then, they all invaded the walled garden, where they found much to gladden their hearts.  The juniper trees were quite perfect; and the flowers, though they had been so long neglected, seemed really to have been waiting for them.  The different kinds of flowers each had a bed of their own; the larkspur and poppies and coxcomb and hollyhocks and columbines, and each seemed to lean forward and say, “Come and see us!  Come and see us!” And so the children made the rounds of the garden, visiting each variety of flower.

At last they sat down on the stone benches which surrounded a fine grass-plot with an ancient sundial in the middle.

Many of the children were content to sit quietly and rest; but Little Bo-Peep and Little Boy Blue, being very young, and naturally rather playful, could not restrain themselves, and they took their places on the grass and began to play.  They looked simply charming:  Little Bo-Peep being dressed in a white frock with short sleeves having any number of flounces.  She wore a Gainesborough hat of delicate materials, with cherry ribbons ending in tassels of the same color hanging down behind.  She also wore red slippers having buckles set with rubies.

Little Boy Blue was arrayed in blue rompers, cunningly made of one piece, and very ample.

It seemed that they had long resided close to each other, and had often played together; and now, almost without any pre-arrangement at all, they began a game which consisted of singing and dancing.

[Illustration:  They began a game which consisted of singing and dancing.]

They stood facing each other on the grass, and Little Boy Blue began the following song: