The footsteps came nearer, and a boy in a fine suit came along. As soon as he saw Belinda he made a low bow, and stood with his hat in his hand.
"This must be a gentleman," thought Belinda, "or he would not be so polite."
But she did not speak.
"Did you not cry out for help?" asked the youth.
"Yes," replied Belinda; "I have lost Blanche, and I want some one to find her, and to help me to carry this bag; for I can't lift it, and I believe there is a prize in it."
"Prize!" repeated the boy; "I should think there was! Why this bag is full of wonderful magic toys, and if you let them out they will search the world over until they find anything that you have lost. Where did you get them from?"
"A boy with a bundle of corn brought the sack. At least it wasn't a sack, but it turned into one—and——"
"It must have been Oberon himself, the King of the Fairies, you know, who brought the sack to you."
"Ah!" returned Belinda, "he did say something about a king in disguise, but I did not believe him."
"Perhaps if you had been more polite," answered the boy, "you would have found Blanche back by this time, for he knows all about her. The Queen has carried her away because she knocked her little pages about."