For the last week he had been waiting in the forest. Now that he was there, he was not quite sure how to carry out his mission. So far there had been no sign of Udo, either on four legs or on two; it seemed probable that unless Coronel went to the Palace and asked for him, there would be no sign. And if he went to the Palace, and Udo was all right, and the Princess Hyacinth was in love with him, then the worst would have happened. He would have to stay there and help admire Udo—an unsatisfying prospect to a man in love. For he told himself by this time that he was in love with Hyacinth, although he had never seen her.
So he had waited in the forest, hoping for something to turn up; and first Wiggs had come . . . and now at last Hyacinth. He was very glad that he had waited.
She was there on the morrow.
"I knew you'd come," said Coronel. "It looks just as beautiful, doesn't it?"
"I think it's even more beautiful," said Hyacinth.
"You mean those little white clouds? That was my idea putting those in. I thought you'd like them."
"I wondered what you did all day. Does it keep you very busy?"
"Oh," said Coronel, "I have time for singing."
"Why do you sing?"
"Because I am young and the forest is beautiful."