Prisoner though he was, the King of the Sheep had still some
powers and privileges.
“Go,” said he to his Master of the Horse, “go and seek the
shadows of the little black girl, the monkey, and the dog:
they will amuse our Princess.”
And an instant afterward Miranda saw them coming toward her, and
their presence gave her the greatest pleasure, though they did not
come near enough for her to touch them.
The King of the Sheep was so kind and amusing, and loved Miranda
so dearly, that at last she began to love him too. Such a
handsome sheep, who was so polite and considerate, could hardly
fail to please, especially if one knew that he was really a king,
and that his strange imprisonment would soon come to an end.
So the Princess’s days passed very gaily while she waited for the
