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songs, and began to talk together in the silence of the night—

“‘What boy is that,’ said one on a branch above him, ‘who sits so lonely by the Fair Fountain? He cannot have come from Stumpinghame with such small and handsome feet.’

“‘No, I’ll warrant you,’ said another, ‘he has come from the west country. How in the world did he find the way?’

‘How simple you are!’ said a third nightingale. ‘What had he to do but follow the ground-ivy which grows over height and hollow, bank and bush, from the lowest gate of the king’s kitchen-garden to the root of this rose-tree? He looks a wise boy, and I hope he will keep the secret, or we shall have all the west country here, dabbling in our fountain, and leaving us no rest to either talk or sing.’

“Fairyfoot sat in great astonishment at this discourse, but by and by, when the talk ceased and the songs began, he thought it might be as well for him to follow the ground-ivy, and see the Princess Maybloom, not to speak of getting rid of Rough Ruddy, the sickly sheep, and the crusty old shepherd. It was a long journey; but he went on eating wild berries by day, sleeping in the hollows of old trees by night, and never losing