John Gayther's Garden and the Stories Told Therein

therefore not introduced within the sacred precincts of the summer-house on the upper terrace. The young people took a fancy to a p

of the family, and the very morning after their arrival they all repaired to the summer-house which overlooked the garden. There was some conver

t, and the Daughter of the House seemed absorbed in some fancy work. But after some time the Master

nd a devoted and rapturous admirer of Pomona. The couple had descended upon her the night before in a most unexpected fashion, but she gave them a hearty welcome, and rejoiced in them, even after she discovered that she owed the visit to a desire on the p

r brought his stool unasked and joined the par

g on her mind-that she had come with a purpose; and as soon as the inquiries and ex

omething particular; and as we are all fri

we shall be pleased!" the M

but turned again to th

than once that if I had to do this or that thing now, that's set down in the book, I'd do it different. But then he always answers that if I'd done that I'd have spoiled the story, and so there was no more to say on that subject. What we've done we gladly did, and we're more than glad

hemia. "If you don't want to go into fictio

anybody in fiction who did not want to go th

hat was on Pomona's mind

he way we was in it before. The fact is that between us we've written a story, and we've brought it with us, hoping you wouldn't mind letting Jone read it t

ve all things!" excla

ay until it is read," said

ar it!" cried the Da

t read it," was Euph

alled out the Ma

e been a long time working at it, and we wouldn't think of such

Jonas now drew a manuscript

he, "is 'The Foreign Prince

oundless Prince'; but Jone he said that groundless applies to things there is no reason for,

eat many out-of-the-way things have happened, a certain young Prince went travelling in foreign parts of the world with the general purpose of

his army and subjugated his people, and had partitioned his principality among themselves. Consequently he found himself in a strange position: he had gone forth to visit f

person, he was an alien prince, and must always so continue. The exception was a Single Adherent, who had

ince strode away from the place that had once been h

upon a stone, calmly surveying the sunset sky. The hermit looked up with a pleasant smile, for it had been long since a traveller had passed that way; and, perceiving that the st

uestions of the hermit, the

u are the Prince Ferrando. I might have known

, then?' inqui

s; but believe me-I mingled a great deal with the world before I came to this cave, and I know what I am talking about-when I tell you that there are many potentates who would be gl

d far to broaden my mind; I came back prepared to reign wisely over my subjects. But I have no subjects, and therefore I cannot exercise that enlightened rule for

too young to give up things in that way. And now

ng woman carrying a large basket filled with water-cress. The Prince bowed lo

on; but when I came here to seek rest and peace within these rock

esses a noble soul,' said t

?' the Single Adherent asked himself, a

she went away to prepare supper. The meal was soon ready, and consisted of cress fresh from the sp

xt Neighbor. "So tired and hungry!

mona; "hermits never eat

er seemed to take a lively interest. At a little distance on the small stone sat the Single Adherent, also smoking a pipe of water-cress, and his inability to enjoy this novel sensation was plainly evident in the radiant beams of the

s, the hermit, his daughter, and their guest held council together; while the Adherent s

ould have no opportunity to exercise his abilities for sovereignty; therefore we think the best thing you can do is to rent a principality for

ity to let?' exclaimed the Prince. '

ok around I think you might find something to suit you

igate the country north of this valley. There are several principalities in that direction, and it would no

to depart, the hermit said to him: 'I shall be very glad to hear from you, and, if you should succeed in renting a principality, I will willingly give you any advice and assistance in

ost, and when he approached the daughter to take leave of her,

d at a roadside inn, where they ate an abnormal breakfast, an

e night. The Adherent, however, was of the opinion that they should go on until they reached the crest of a hill before them; they would then be able to

, at no great distance, a small city. When they had approached it nearer they p

ITY TO LE

OWAGER AT

head as he said to himself: 'Thi

ce, 'is a remarkable young woman, and he

he Prince and his Single Adherent repaired to the p

fectly satisfied with his statements, for she had met his father, and the likeness was unmistakable. She told him she would be very much pleased to have him for a tena

ring the life of her late husband everything in the palace had been kept in the most admirable order; but of course it could not be supposed that she, by herself, could go to the expense of ne

ave an army,' rem

occasion when the infantry corps had just been furnished with new uniforms, that he never saw a finer-looking set of men. The cavalry is also in excellent condition. Of course i

llery?' inquir

h the necessary cannon, ammunition, horses, and all that, but he never did so. And of course, being a woman, I could not be expected to attend to such thin

about the army, but inquired if the p

t this impossibility of having a navy saved him a great deal of expense, to say nothing of the

a whisper asked her if the visitors were going to stay to din

, I will suggest that you ask if there

en her head at the servan

egislature?' a

principality; but it has now less than a year to run, and my advice would be that you should not convene it again. My experience has taug

marked the Prince. 'I

tle used of late, and it may be out of order. I have found that plain, straightforward decrees from the throne are a great deal cheaper and a great deal quicker in their operation than a judicial decision. But if you desire a regularly organized judiciary, it will

nt had been growing darker and darker

said he, 'it might be we

principality, she did not immediately answer, but reflected, with her

be a regular prince who will appreciate the advantages and responsibilities of a place like this, and, as you are unmarried, without e

the Dowager his countenance grew almost black,

cal economy, and am familiar with the principles of internal revenue, and the income to be derived

e what it ought to; but my late husband received a very good revenue from it, and I am sure you could do the same, if not a great

Adherent, and the latter

Ferrando; 'I cannot pay such a

ld not be able to pay it, I might take off something in your case. I would not do this fo

e principality; he would be homeless and forlorn without one

ou will give me the refusal of the principality fo

d: 'Of course, in case of a reduction like this, it must be stipulated in the lease that I reserve some rooms in the palace

he palace, followed by the eager, wistful glances of the Dowager.

will write a letter to him, and you shall take it. But you must not walk t

ntly the hermit approached the Single Adherent. 'Is there room in your vehicle for three persons?' said he. Receiving an affirmative answer, he continued: 'Then my daughter and I will go back w

ater-cress it could eat, the littl

st real-estate agents," rema

to reply, but J

to the door of the inn, he was amazed and delighted to see the

I am most happy to see you! I am in great trouble

u,' said the good hermit, as he wa

nce should go to the palace, and should agree to lease the principality for five years, provided the Dowager would accept one half the sum she had originally asked; and that he should also absolute

er left the palace, taking with her all her belongings. As s

ery bad bargain that I have made. If that young fellow had been

he called to his Adherent, and sent him to the inn to summon the hermit and his daughter to his presence. He wished to be grateful to these good frie

ey received a princely welcome, and Ferrando informed them

the best for you; and so I have arranged that yo

it would please your Royal Highness, we should prefer the corresp

is guests' wishes should be gratified. The Adherent, who was standing

the Prince in the grand hall. To his utter amazement, Ferr

ith them?' he whispered to hi

ht nothing but a basket of water-cress, which the lady

side walked his daughter, who was so beautiful in her silks and la

as long as she lived, and that my daughter should then succeed her. At the same time, knowing that his wife did not understand the governing of principalities, he appointed me Assistant Prince, with a salary. This seemed like a very good plan,

the one to the other of his guests. 'Can it be possible,' he said presently

visiting you and of occupying our old suite of apartments. I cannot describe to your Royal Highness the pleas

wish you could stay always,' he added, his eyes still fixed upon the beautiful young woman. Then, as if to explain this outburst o

station. My idea is that you shall marry my daughter. Then, in virtue of your lease, you will reign over the principality, and she will be your consort. After a time, when the D

an!' he cried. 'From the moment I saw your daughter with the basket

he peculiar circumstances in which the Prince had found himself, her heart had gone out to him like a dove see

is only right to inform you that the Dowager, when she left, said to me that sh

rds gone yet? Send them after her without the loss o

t. The old lady is bound to come back, and the sooner she comes and goes, the better; but we should be prepared for her. I suggest that a priest be summoned, and that you and my daughter be married im

assemblage in the great hall of all the courtiers and servants who could be found. The Adherent sped away on his errand,

st to be spread. But he was soon informed that there was nothing to eat in the house, for

time enough to provide a good supper. And, in the meantime, what could be more approp

ked that the Prince was so wild with delight that if this had been suddenly changed to o

ed the great hall she perceived the wedding-party waiting to receive her; and her amazement was such that her toes

der you are surprised to see us here, and in order to relieve your mind I

, she cried: 'This is a plot! I have been deceived, and the lease is void

toms duties. The sum I received was not equal to the amount due me, but I made no complaint. The second year I was obliged to rely on the taxes on internal production; but as you required most of the income from this source, I found myself very short of money at the end of the year. The third year I was obliged to rely upon the taxes on pew-rents; and that, a

g shaken her long forefinger at that beautiful young lad

s folded

" asked the Daugh

is of it," said J

rented principality, and if he ever got his own. I worked it out in my mind like a flash t

hat if that principality was governed

let it run down. Now when a story is running down as if it was a clock, it's often a good de

u wind it up," she said, "yo

mean to wind it up like a clock," she said, "but to wind it up like an old-fashioned

ay to stop a story; but Euphemia did not agree with him. "I think," she said,

at Jonas, and Jona

s trying to squeeze a moral into it here and there; but he didn't say nothing about it, a

e work out one kind of moral, and others work out another kind. It was a pretty big job to write that story, which I had to do the most of, and

ground, then up to the s

r, and the young man was obliged to paddle his canoe very near the opposite shore in order to get out of the way. This was troublesome, and after a while he got tired of it. It would be very much pleasanter, he thought, if he could paddle along the middle of the stream, without thinking about the rocks. So when, one morning, he was in a great hurry, he said to himself that he would steer his canoe right straight agains

l of the story Jonas had read, if, indeed, he had had in his mind any moral at all-and t

and often worse than useless. But if there are any morals to those two stories, I should say that the first story has somethi

as had read; but they all agreed that it was worthy of Pomona and Jonas, and should

ORY IS

HTER OF

IS C

NSCIOU