often looked up at the west turret from the outside. But just as he got to the door he was overtaken by Bertrand, who had naturally come straight up without any wrong turnings.

'What a time you've been,' said Bertrand, pushing in before him. 'Now, let's see where did Ruby say she'd left her cross? Oh yes, hanging up there; she must have stood on a chair to reach it.' And sure enough, on a nail pretty high up on the wall hung the little ornament.

Winfried drew forward a chair; in another minute he had reached down the cross.

'Here it is,' he said, turning to Bertrand. Buthe spoke to the air! Bertrand was gone. Winfried's face flushed; but he controlled himself. He walked quietly to the door and turned the handle. It did not open. It was locked from the outside. He was a prisoner!

'I knew something of the kind would come,' he said to himself. What will they do now? Poor little Mavis! I must trust her to the princess.'

But he could not help a feeling of bitter anger. It was no light punishment to the active energetic boy to have to spend all the bright afternoon hours shut up here like an old owl in a church tower. And

he knew that till some one came to let him out, a prisoner he verily was. For he might have shouted his voice hoarse, no one down below could have heard him. And the chance of any one in the castle coming up was very small.

'What will gran think?' he said to himself. And, if these naughty children try to play him any trick. I know Ruby more than half believes all that nonsense about his being a wizard and about the mermaids, and Bertrand will egg her on.'

He went to the window and stood looking out, trying to keep down the dreadful restless caged feeling which began to come over him.

'How can I bear it?' he said. 'If I had tools now, and could pick the lock; but some of these old locks are very strong, and I have nothing. If only I had wings;' and he gazed again out of the window.

When he turned round, though it was quite bright and sunny outside, it almost seemed as if the evening haze had somehow got into the room before its time. It was filled with a thin bluish mist. Winfried's eyes brightened.

'My princess!' he exclaimed. 'Are you there?' A little laugh answered him, and gradually the

mist drew together and into shape, and Forget-menot stood before him.

'My boy,' she exclaimed, 'I am surprised at you. Why, you were looking quite depressed!'

Winfried reddened.

'It was the horrid feeling of being locked up,' he said. I never felt it before, and-it seems such a shame, such a mean trick. I wouldn't have minded a stand-up fight with any fellow, but--'

'Of course you wouldn't; but you've got a good bit farther than that, I hope, Winfried,' she said with a smile. 'And besides, Bertrand is much smaller than you. But it had to be, you know. I have explained enough to you- you and little Mavis ;—it had to be.'

Winfried started.

'That's another thing,' he said. 'I am uneasy about her. What will they do? They don't understand the boat, you know, princess, and she is alone with them.'

Forget-me-not smiled again.

How faithless you are to-day, Winfried,' she said. Mavis will be getting before you if you don't take care, simple and ignorant as she is. Can't you trust her to me?' And as the boy's face brightened,

Come,' she said, 'I see you are recovering your usual ground, so I will tell you how I am going to do. But first, shut your eyes, Winfried; and here, wrap the end of my scarf round you. You might feel giddy still, though it's not the first time. Ready? -that's right-there now, give me your hand-we're up on the window ledge. You were wishing for wings-isn't this as good as wings?'

Bertrand rushed down-as much as he could rush, that is to say, over the steep and rough path— to the shore where the sisters were waiting.

'Have you got it?' asked Mavis eagerly. 'What?' asked Bertrand, out of breath.

What? Why, Ruby's cross, of course, that you went for. And where is Winfried?'

'All right,' said Bertrand, in a curious voice; 'he's coming directly. We're to get into the boat and go on a little way, keeping near the shore. He's coming down another way.'

(Yes, Bertrand, that he is!)
Mavis looked up anxiously.
'And the cross?' she said.

'Winfried's got it,' he said. Which was true. Then he turned away, the fact being that he was so