"The first children I've ever seen in the woods except my own," said the white-haired man.
Zeb ran around the chair of the Emperor, growling and leaping playfully at Socky and Sue.
"The court jester!" said Dunmore, looking down at the dog.
He stood a moment with his back to the blazing logs.
Then he went to the chair of the Emperor, and put his hand under the chin of little Sue and looked into her face. In half a moment he took her in his arms and sat down by the fireside. The child was yawning wearily.
"Heigh-ho!" he exclaimed; "let's away to the Isles of Rest."
He rocked back and forth as he held her against his breast and sang this lullaby:
"Jack Tot was as big as a baby's thumb,
And his belly could hold but a drop and a crumb,
And a wee little sailor was he—Heigh-ho!