With her slender childish arms she embraced the Princess, and pressed her rosy cheeks tenderly against Ludovicka’s glowing face.

“You little blockhead, how you have frightened me!” said Ludovicka, repulsing her almost rudely.  “I was asleep here, dreaming such sweet dreams, and all at once you have come and waked me, you little night owl.  Go, go to bed, Louisa, and do not be so timid, child.  No robbers and murderers come here, and in our castle you need not be afraid.”

“Ah, Aunt Hollandine,” whispered the child, while she cast a frightened, anxious glance around the room—­“ah, Aunt Hollandine, I am afraid that this castle is haunted.  It was either robbers or evil spirits who made such a noise and talked and laughed so loud.  And”—­she stooped lower and quite softly whispered—­“and you may believe me, dear, good aunt, it is haunted here.  I plainly saw the curtain across there shake as I entered.  Evil spirits are abroad to-night.  Do you hear how it howls and whistles out of doors, and how the windows rattle?  Those are spirits, and they have flown in here and laughed and danced.  O aunt! you did not hear, but I did, for I have been awake, and have heard and seen how the door curtain shook, and there they lurk now, those wicked spirits, and look at us and laugh.  Oh, I know that, I do!  My nurse, Trude, told me all about it the other evening, and she knows.  There are good and bad spirits; but the good spirits make no noise, and you would not know they were here.  They come to you so quietly and so gently, and sit by your bed and look at you, and their faces shine like the moon and their eyes like stars, and their thoughts are prayers and their smiles God’s blessing.  But evil spirits are noisy and boisterous, and laugh and make an uproar as they did to-night!”

“You have been dreaming, little simpleton, and fancy now that you really heard what dull sleep alone was thrumming about your ears.  All has been quiet and peaceful here, and no evil spirits were in this room—­trust me.”

“Neither were good spirits here, aunt!” cried the child; with tearful voice.  “The door curtain did move, and I did hear laughter—­believe me.  And, dear Aunt Hollandine, I beg you to give me your hand and come with me into your sleeping room, and please be kind enough to your poor little Louisa to take her with you into your great fine bed, and let us hug one another and pray together and sleep together; then the evil spirits can not get to us.  Come, dear aunt, come!”

With both her hands she seized the Princess by the arm, and tried to lift her from the divan.  But Ludovicka hastily pushed her away.

“Leave such follies, Louisa, and go to bed!” she said angrily.  “Had I known what a restless sleeper you were, I should not have gratified your wish of staying with me, but had you put to bed on the other side of the castle with the little princesses, my sisters.”

“Aunt,” said the child, in a touching tone of voice, “I will be perfectly still and quiet, I shall certainly not disturb you, if you will only be good and kind enough to come with me.”