his nativity, he found that neighboring nations had made war upon his
country--that they had conquered 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 foreign lands,
and now he returned to find himself a foreigner on the very spot where
he was born. In fact, his nationality had been swept away; his country
had disappeared.
"But he was still a prince. Nothing could deprive him of his noble
birth. But to all the world, save to one person, he was an alien prince,
and must always so continue. The exception was a Single Adherent, who
had followed him when he began his travels, and whose loyal spirit would
not suffer him to leave his master now.
"Slowly, with crossed arms and head bent low, the Prince strode away
from the place that had once been his home, his Single Adherent
following his footsteps.
"After a long day's journey they came to a little valley chiefly
remarkable for streams and rocks. Here, at the entrance of a commodious
cave, he beheld an elderly hermit seated 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 stranger was not only well-bred but tired, invited him to take a
seat upon a stone near by his own, at the same time motioning the
Adherent to a smaller stone at a little distance.
"In reply to the numerous questions of the hermit, the Prince soon told
his story.
"'Well, well!' exclaimed the hermit. 'Then you are the Prince Ferrando.
I might have known it, for you so closely resemble your father.'
"'You knew him, then?' inquired the Prince.
"'I have often seen him,' the hermit replied. 'The likeness is
wonderful. And so you have come back to find that your principality does
not exist. It is a strange condition of things; 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 glad to come back from a journey and to find
that their dominions had ceased to exist, and that with them had
disappeared all the trials, responsibilities, and dangers of
sovereignty.'
"'But I am not that sort of person,' said Ferrando. 'I do not allow care
to oppress me; I do not shrink from responsibility; I am not afraid of
danger. I travelled 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 which I have, with so much
toil and study, prepared myself. Wherever I go I must always be an
absolute alien, and as such I must try to learn to consider myself.'
"'Cheer up, my friend,' said the hermit. 'You are too young to give up
things in that way. And now allow me, sir, to introduce you to my
daughter.'
"Ferrando sprang up quickly, and beheld standing near him a very
handsome young woman carrying a large basket filled with water-cress.
The Prince bowed low. 'It is very unusual, I think,' said he, 'for a
hermit to have a daughter.'
"The hermit smiled. 'Yes,' said he; 'it is rather out of the common; but
when I came here to seek rest and peace within these rocky walls, my
daughter could not be dissuaded from accompanying me.'
"'It is plain that she possesses a noble soul,' said the Prince, again
bowing low.
"'I wonder if he ever thinks that of me?' the Single Adherent asked
himself, as he stood respectfully by his low stone.
"When the hermit's daughter had been made aware of Ferrando's former
station and his misfortunes, she went away to prepare supper. The meal
was soon ready, and consisted of cress fresh from the spring, fried
cress, and toasted cress, with cress tea, and also freshly drawn water
from a spring."
"Poor young man!" exclaimed the Next Neighbor. "So tired and hungry! Was
that all they had to give him?"
"Of course," explained Pomona; "hermits never eat anything but
water-cress."
"After supper," continued Jonas, "the hermit filled a pipe with dried
water-cress, and offered another to his guest, and the three sat at the
entrance of the cave and discussed the Prince's affairs, in which the
hermit and his daughter 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 full moon. In the course of
an hour the Prince and his Adherent retired to a guest-cave near by; but
the hermit and his daughter sat up far into the night discussing the
Prince and the peculiar circumstances in which he found himself.
"The next morning after breakfast, the principal dish of which was a
salmi of water-cress, the hermit, his daughter, and their guest held
council together; while the Adherent stood at a respectful distance, and
listened with earnest attention to all that was said.
"'My daughter and I,' said the hermit, 'agree that it is a lamentable
thing that a prince such as yourself, so eminently qualified to rule,
should have no opportunity to exercise his abilities for sovereignty;
therefore we think the best thing you can do is to rent a principality
for a term of years. In some ways this would be better than inheriting
one, for if you do not like it you can give it up at the end of the
term.'
"'But where could I find a principality to let?' exclaimed the Prince.
'I never heard of anything like that!'
"'Very likely,' said the hermit; 'but if you were to look around I think
you might find something to suit you which the reigning potentate might
be willing to lease.'
"'I am of my father's opinion,' said the hermit's daughter; 'and if you
will take my advice you will investigate the country north of this
valley. There are several principalities in that direction, and it would
not at all surprise me if, before the end of a day's journey, you were
to find something that could be rented.'
"The Prince was very much pleased with the interest taken in his affairs
by the hermit and his daughter, and he decided to follow their advice.
As he and his Single Adherent were about 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 my power. When I mingled with the general world I saw a
great deal of governing and all that sort of thing, and it may be I can
give you some points which will be of advantage to you.'
"The Prince accepted with thankfulness the kind offer of his host, and
when he approached the daughter to take leave of her, she graciously
stuck a sprig of water-cress in his buttonhole.
"After walking a few miles the Prince and his Adherent stopped at a
roadside inn, where they ate an abnormal breakfast, and then, with
invigorated bodies, they continued their journey.
"Late in the afternoon the Prince became a little tired, and suggested
that they stop at a farm-house which stood near the road, and sojourn
there for the 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 survey the country. He placed a high opinion on
the statement of the hermit's daughter that they would be likely to find
what they wanted before nightfall.
"When they reached the crest of the hill they were delighted to see
before them, at no great distance, a small city. When they had
approached it nearer they perceived by the side of the great gate a
sign-board which bore the inscription:
PRINCIPALITY TO LET--FURNISHED
APPLY TO DOWAGER AT THE PALACE
"The Single Adherent nodded his head as he said to himself: 'This is
just about what I expected.'
"'That hermit's daughter,' said the Prince, 'is a remarkable young
woman, and her suppositions should not be disregarded.'
"After passing the night at an inn near the gate, the Prince and his
Single Adherent repaired to the palace to make inquiries regarding the
principality.
"The Dowager was a middle-aged woman dressed in rusty black, with a
quick eye and an eager expression. Having demanded references of
Ferrando, she declared herself perfectly 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 tenant, and that
she was quite sure the principality would suit him exactly. She then
showed him all over the palace, the Adherent following and taking notice
of everything.
"The furniture and appointments of the princely mansion were somewhat
time-worn and shabby, and the Dowager, noticing the scrutinizing glances
of the Adherent, thought it wise to state that during 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 new carpets and furniture-coverings.
She assured the Prince, however, that a very little expenditure of money
would make the palace look as bright and clean as if it had been
recently furnished.
"'Of course you have an army,' remarked the Prince.
"'Oh, yes,' said the Dowager; 'an excellent army--that is, considering
the size of my principality. The infantry is very good indeed. In fact,
I heard my late husband say, on an 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 in
time of peace it is not necessary to keep these men supplied with
horses, but in an agricultural country it is not difficult to obtain
horses whenever they are really needed.'
"'And the artillery?' inquired the Prince.
"'I am sorry to say,' replied the Dowager, 'that the artillery is not
yet supplied with cannon. It was the intention of my late husband to
furnish them with 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 things. But I have no doubt whatever that you
can easily and inexpensively put this branch of the army on a proper
footing; that is, if you care for artillery.'
"The Prince asked no further questions about the army, but inquired if
the principality was furnished with a navy.
"'Oh, no,' said the Dowager; 'we have no waterfront, and my late husband
used often to say that this impossibility of having a navy saved him a
great deal of expense, to say nothing of the trouble warships might get
him into when they are out of sight in distant parts of the world.'
"At this point the Dowager was called out by a servant, who in a whisper
asked her if the visitors were going to stay to dinner. The Adherent
seized this opportunity to say in a low voice:
"'If your Royal Highness will excuse me, I will suggest that you ask if
there is a legislative body, and a judiciary.'
"The Dowager, having shaken her head at the servant, returned to the
Prince.
"'Have you a legislature?' asked the Prince.
"'Certainly,' she said. 'I cannot say that I think it is a very good
one, for I have more trouble with it than with anything else in the
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 taught
me that one can get along a great deal better without a legislative body
than with one. For my part, I do not approve of them at all.'
"'And a judiciary?' remarked the Prince. 'I suppose you have that.'
"The Dowager hesitated a moment as if she did not exactly understand;
but she recovered herself, and answered quickly: 'Oh, yes, we have one;
but I have so little to do with it that for the moment I forgot it. It
has been a very good one indeed, but it has been little 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 not cost you much to establish
one, if you do not employ your judges by the month or year. I find
piece-work a great deal more satisfactory, and you can get so much law
for nothing in this country that it is not worth while giving much for
it when you have to pay.'
"The countenance of the Single Adherent had been growing darker and
darker, and he now stepped up to the Prince.
"'Your Royal Highness,' said he, 'it might be well to speak of the
rent.'
"When the Prince asked the Dowager how much she wanted per year for her
principality, she did not immediately answer, but reflected, with her
chin in her hand; and then, turning to the Prince, she stated the
amount.
"'You must understand,' she added, 'that I would not rent this
principality to every one for such a sum as that; but as I know you
to be a regular prince who will appreciate the advantages and
responsibilities of a place like this, and, as you are unmarried,
without encumbrances of any sort, I presume, I would much prefer to
let it to you, even at a lower price, than to rent it to a perfect
stranger.'
"When the Adherent heard the sum mentioned by the Dowager his
countenance grew almost black, and Prince Ferrando stood in silent
amazement.
"'It would be impossible for me to pay such a sum as that,' he said at
last. 'I have studied political economy, and am familiar with the
principles of internal revenue, and the income to be derived from
ordinary taxes and imposts in a principality of this size would not
enable me to pay that sum.'
"'Oh, you are very much mistaken!' cried the Dowager. 'Of course, as a
woman, I have not been able to make the principality pay me 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 deal better: for my late
husband was not a good business man; he thought too much of other
people and not enough of his family.'
"The Prince looked at his Adherent, and the latter shook his head
violently.
"'It is impossible,' said Prince Ferrando; 'I cannot pay such a sum as
that'; and he rose to go.
"'Of course,' said the Dowager, hastily, 'if you think that is too much,
and that you would not be able to pay it, I might take off something in
your case. I would not do this for everybody, but as it is you, I will
take off one per cent. of the amount I have named.'
"For a moment Ferrando stood undecided. He greatly wanted the
principality; he would be homeless and forlorn without one; and yet this
Dowager was asking him a most outrageous price.
"'I will consider this matter,' said he, 'and if you will give me the
refusal of the principality for twenty-four hours I will see you again
to-morrow.'
"The Dowager considered this request as favorable to her interests, and,
fearing that she had asked him too little, she added: 'Of course, in
case of a reduction like this, it must be stipulated in the lease that I
reserve some rooms in the palace where I shall board at your expense.
You cannot expect me to accept a reduced rent, and to be turned out of
my house besides.'
"The Prince bowed; and, without reply, he and his Adherent left the
palace, followed by the eager, wistful glances of the Dowager. When they
reached the inn the Prince said to his Single Adherent:
"'I am greatly troubled, and I wish I had the advice of that good
hermit. I will write a letter to him, and you shall take it. But you
must not walk that long distance; to-morrow you will hire a vehicle and
go to the hermit.'
"The Prince wrote his letter, and the Adherent took it to the hermit.
The good man and his daughter read it with the greatest interest, and
retired to the back of the cave to consider it. Presently 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 with you. We think the Prince is in
danger of making a very bad bargain; and as we know a great deal about
these things, we believe that our presence and advice will be of great
advantage to him.'
"So, after the horse had all the water-cress it could eat, the little
party started back to the city."
"They must have been the first real-estate agents," remarked the Master
of the House.
Pomona was about to reply, but Jonas gave no time:
"When the Prince heard the sound of the wheels, and came down to the
door of the inn, he was amazed and delighted to see the hermit and his
daughter, and welcomed them with unusual ardor.
"'Of all the people in the world,' he exclaimed, 'I am most happy to see
you! I am in great trouble and difficulty, and I want your advice and
counsel.'
"'Which is what we came to give you,' said the good hermit, as he warmly
pressed the hand of the Prince.
"After supper the Prince and his guests retired to an inner room for
consultation, while the Adherent stood in the background. After some
discussion it was decided that early in the morning the Prince 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 absolutely refuse to board the
Dowager, or to allow her to reserve any part of the palace for her own
use. He would promise to pay one quarter's rent in advance if these
terms were agreed upon on the spot.
"It was nearly high noon on the following day that the Dowager left the
palace, taking with her all her belongings. As she departed she turned
and cast a black look at the Adherent.
"'It is to his advice,' she said to herself, 'that I owe this very bad
bargain that I have made. If that young fellow had been left to himself
he would have agreed to everything I demanded.'
"For an hour or two before she left the Prince had been wandering around
the premises, impatiently waiting for her departure. As soon as she was
gone, 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 friends, but, as he had a respect to appearances, he did not
desire the Dowager to know that these humble persons were to be his
first guests in the palace.
"When the hermit and his daughter arrived at the palace they received a
princely welcome, and Ferrando informed them that he wished them to make
him a visit of at least a week.
"'You have been so good to me that I wish to do the best for you; and so
I have arranged that you shall occupy the state suite in the right
wing.'
"'We are thankful for this great honor,' said the hermit; 'but, if it
would please your Royal Highness, we should prefer the corresponding
rooms in the left wing. We think they will suit us better.'
"The Prince raised his eyebrows in surprise, but he gave orders that his
guests' wishes should be gratified. The Adherent, who was standing in
the background, raised his eyebrows also; but he was not surprised.
"In about half an hour the hermit and his daughter rejoined the Prince
in the grand hall. To his utter amazement, Ferrando beheld his guests
dressed in rich and handsome garments.
"'Did they bring any trunks with them?' he whispered to his Adherent, as
they approached.
"'No, your Royal Highness,' was the answer. 'They brought nothing but a
basket of water-cress, which the lady said had been freshly picked and
ought not to be wasted.'
"With great dignity the hermit advanced to the Prince, and by his side
walked his daughter, who was so beautiful in her silks and laces that
the Prince found it impossible to remove his eyes from her.
"'In order to explain this change in our appearance,' said the hermit,
'I will state that the Dowager from whom you rented this principality is
my brother's widow. Before he died he arranged that the Dowager should
reign over the principality 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, but it did
not work. The Dowager soon showed such a disposition to meddle with
everything that was going on that my position gradually became so
intolerable that I determined to retire to a hermit's cell, to which my
daughter accompanied me.'
"With his mind scarcely able to grasp the situation, the Prince gazed
from the one to the other of his guests. 'Can it be possible,' he said
presently, 'that in renting this principality I have interfered with
your prospects?'
"'Oh, not at all, not at all,' replied the hermit. 'In the first place,
you have given us the great honor of visiting you and of occupying our
old suite of apartments. I cannot describe to your Royal Highness the
pleasure I felt when I saw my dressing-gown hanging on its accustomed
hook, with my favorite slippers beneath it.'
"'I take back my invitation for a week!' cried the Prince. 'Now that I
know who you are, you must stay with me for a long time. I wish you
could stay always,' he added, his eyes still fixed upon the beautiful
young woman. Then, as if to explain this outburst of interest, he said:
'You know, I rely so much on your advice and counsel, and there is no
knowing what that Dowager may do next.'
"'You are right,' said the ex-hermit; 'there is no possible way of
knowing. But a plan has suggested itself to me which I think may relieve
you of any possible annoyance or molestation. 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
Dowager departs this life, my daughter, by virtue of inheritance, will
reign over the principality, and you will be her consort. Thus you see
the Dowager will have no show at all.'
"The countenance of the Prince shone like the sun. 'A heaven-born plan!'
he cried. 'From the moment I saw your daughter with the basket of
water-cress, I loved her. By your permission, I will embrace her.'
"The permission was given, and he embraced her. She might have said
that, from the moment she had understood the peculiar circumstances in
which the Prince had found himself, her heart had gone out to him like a
dove seeking the nest of its partner; but she did not think it needful
to occupy the time with unnecessary statements.
"'Your Royal Highness,' said the Adherent, approaching with a bow, 'I
think it is only right to inform you that the Dowager, when she left,
said to me that she would return early in the afternoon to superintend
the removal of her parrots.'
"'What!' cried the Prince. 'Haven't those beastly birds gone yet? Send
them after her without the loss of a minute. I don't want to see her
back here again.'
"The ex-hermit, who had drawn his daughter aside for a few words of
consultation, now advanced with uplifted hands. 'Nay,' said he; 'if you
will excuse me, I think I can suggest a better plan than that. 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 immediately. Our
position in the palace will then be assured, and the Dowager will have
nothing to say, either about our presence here or about anything else.
How does my plan suit your Royal Highness?'
"Ferrando did not answer, but, turning to the Adherent, he ordered him
to summon a priest without delay, and to order the assemblage in the
great hall of all the courtiers and servants who could be found. The
Adherent sped away on his errand, and as he did so he smiled and said to
himself: 'She is a better manager than the old woman! And her views are
broader!'
"When the marriage ceremony had been concluded, the Prince ordered a
sumptuous wedding-feast to be spread. But he was soon informed that
there was nothing to eat in the house, for the Dowager had not thought
it at all incumbent upon her to provide eatables for her tenant.
"'It matters not!' cried the ex-hermit, his face glowing with pleasure.
'There will be time enough to provide a good supper. And, in the
meantime, what could be more appropriate for a wedding-repast than the
basket of cress which my daughter brought with her?'
"A table was spread, with a great dish of water-cress in the centre. And
it may be remarked that the Prince was so wild with delight that if this
had been suddenly changed to one containing fried chicken with cream
gravy he would not have perceived the difference.