remembered him if only because a princess never forgets her debts
until
they are paid.
[Illustration: In an instant she was on the saddle, and clasped in his
great strong arms.]
One splendid sunshiny day, about an hour after noon, Irene, who was
playing on a lawn in the garden, heard the distant blast of a bugle. She
jumped up with a cry of joy, for she knew by that particular blast that
her father was on his way to see her. This part of the garden lay on the
slope of the hill, and allowed a full view of the country below. So she
shaded her eyes with her hand, and looked far away to catch the first
glimpse of shining armor. In a few moments a little troop came
glittering round the shoulder of a hill. Spears and helmets were
sparkling and gleaming, banners were flying, horses prancing, and
again came the bugle-blast, which was to her like the voice of her
father calling across the distance, "Irene, I'm coming." On and on they
came, until she could clearly distinguish the king. He rode a white
horse, and was taller than any of the men with him. He wore a narrow
circle of gold set with jewels around his helmet, and as he came still
nearer, Irene could discern the flashing of the stones in the sun. It
was a long time since he had been to see her, and her little heart beat
Madhuri Noah
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