King Brondé, having learned the character of the old woman, ordered the hut to be searched, and in the cellar were found concealed many costly jewels. These he commanded should be carefully packed and taken to his palace, and there kept until the old woman could be brought and made to tell who were their rightful owners.
This being settled, King Brondé and his queen were eager to set out for their own kingdom. But Rosebud would first bid farewell to the children of the shore; and also to Bess and Judy, who were weeping bitterly. What could they do without Rosebud? She had been so gentle with them, and so kind. Must they lose that sunny smile? The hut would be dark and lonely now!
The other children were standing sorrowfully by; and when Rosebud would have bidden them farewell, they with one accord burst into tears.
Poor Rosebud, she must needs weep too! For they had loved her, and she had loved them, every one.
But where was Myrtle? Had any one seen Myrtle? All began to look about and to inquire. But no one had seen him, since he first leaped ashore with his basket of fish.
At length one little girl whispered to Rosebud, pointing at the same time to a clump of bushes at a little distance.
And there she found him, lying upon the ground, crying as if his very heart would break.
Rosebud begged him not to cry, but to arise, come to the hut, and see her father and mother,—her father and mother, of whom they had so often talked. They need not be little pedlers, now.
But he would not be persuaded, and Rosebud returned sorrowfully to the hut.
“But who is this Myrtle?” asked King Brondé.