Perhaps it will help me to think better of the princess.' 'That's why I am tempted to tell you,' replied his mother.

'But first, I may as well mention that, according to old whispers, there is something more than common about the king's family; and the queen was of the same blood, for they were cousins of some degree.

There were strange stories told concerning them--all good stories--but strange, very strange.

What they were I cannot tell, for I only remember the faces of my grandmother and my mother as they talked together about them.

There was wonder and awe--not fear--in their eyes, and they whispered, and never spoke aloud.