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“A nice field for Daisy is all he wants, Lord King,” she answered boldly; for the handsome brown face with the kind eyes was very like her father’s, she thought.

“He shall have it. Now wish three wishes for yourself, my child, and I will grant them if I can.”

Betty showed all her little white teeth as she laughed for joy at this splendid offer. Then she said slowly,–

“I have but one wish now, for the Princess has given me a dear doll and many books; so I am the happiest creature in all the kingdom, and have no wants.”

“Contented little lass! Who of us can say the same?” said the King, looking at the people round him, who dropped their eyes and looked foolish, for they were always asking favors of the good King. “Well, now let us know the one thing I can do to please brave woodman John’s little daughter.”

“Please let the Princess come and play with me,” said Betty, eagerly.

The lords looked horrified, and the ladies as if they would faint away at the mere idea of such a dreadful thing. But the Queen nodded, Bonnibelle cried, “Oh, do!” and the King laughed as he asked in a surprised tone,–

“But why not come and play with her here? What is there at the cottage that we have not at the palace?”

“Many things, Lord King,” answered Betty. “She is tired of the palace and everything in it, she says, and longs to run about in the wood, and be well and gay and busy all day long, as I am. She wants to bake and milk and sweep and knit, and hear the wind blow, and dance with the daisies, and talk with my birds, and dream happy dreams, and love to be alive, as I do.”

“Upon my word, here’s a bold Brownie! But she is right, I think; and if my Princess can get a pair of cheeks like these down at the cottage, she shall go as often as she likes,” said the King, amused at Betty’s free words, and struck by the contrast between the two faces before him, one like a pale garden lily and the other like a fresh wild rose.

Then Bonnibelle burst out and told all the story of the day, talking as she had never talked before; and every one listened, amazed to see how lively and sweet her Highness could be, and wondered what had made such a sudden change. But the old nurse went about, saying in a whisper,–

“She is a real Brownie, I know it; for no mortal child would be so bold and bright, and do what she has done,–bewitched both King and Queen, and made her Highness a new child.”

So all looked at Betty with great respect; and when at last the talk was over and the King rose to go, with a kiss for each little girl, every one bowed and made way for the Brownie, as if she too were a Princess.

But Betty was not proud; for she remembered the peacocks as she walked hand in hand with Bonnibelle after the royal papa and mamma over the terrace to the great hall, where the feast was spread and music sounding splendidly.

“You shall sit by me and have my golden cup,” said Bonnibelle, when the silver horns were still, and all waited for the King to hand the Queen to her place.

“No, I must go home. It is sunset; Daisy must be milked, and father’s supper ready when he comes. Let me run away and get my old clothes; these are too fine to wear in the cottage,” answered Betty, longing to stay, but so faithful to her duty that even the King’s command could not keep her.

“Tell her to stay, papa; I want her,” cried Bonnibelle, going to the great gilded chair where her father sat.

“Stay, child,” said the King, with a wave of the hand where the great jewel shone like a star.