These　words　delighted　the　good　baron；　and　he　gave　a　rich　and　magnificent　feast　in　honor　of　his　son's　return。
  The　High　Ki　of　Twi；　after　passing　several　pleasant　days　at　Nerle's　home；　now　decided　that　they　had　seen　enough　of　the　world　and　would　be　glad　to　return　to　their　own　kingdom；　where　all　was　peaceful　and　uneventful；　and　rule　it　to　the　end　of　their　days。　　So　the　baron　furnished　them　an　escort　of　twenty　men…at…arms；　and　these　conducted　the　High　Ki　and　the　aged　Ki　safely　back　to　the　hole　in　the　hedge。
  And　after　they　had　entered　the　Land　of　Twi；　the　first　act　of　the　High　Ki　was　to　order　the　hedge　repaired　and　the　hole　blocked　up；　and　I　have　never　heard　that　any　one；　from　that　time　forth；　ever　succeeded　in　gaining　admittance　to　the　hidden　kingdom。　　So　its　subsequent　history　is　unknown。
  King　Terribus　also　bade　the　prince　an　affectionate　farewell　and　rode　back　to　his　own　kingdom；　and　burly　Wul…Takim　accompanied　him　as　far　as　the　cave；　where　the　fifty…eight　reformed　thieves　awaited　him。
  Nerle's　mother　gladly　adopted　the　Lady　Seseley　and　her　two　companions；　and　thereafter　they　made　their　home　at　the　baron's　castle。　　And　years　afterward；　when　they　had　grown　to　be　women；　Seseley　was　married　to　Nerle　and　became　the　lady　of　the　castle　herself。
  Prince　Marvel　enjoyed　the　feasting　and　dancing　at　the　castle　very　much；　but　after　the　party　began　to　break　up；　and　the　High　Ki　and　the　Ki　had　left　him；　as　well　as　King　Terribus　and　honest　Wul…Takim；　the　young　knight　grew　thoughtful　and　sometimes　uneasy；　and　his　happy　laugh　was　less　frequently　heard。　　Nerle　often　regarded　his　young　master　with　a　feeling　of　awe；　for　there　occasionally　came　a　look　into　Marvel's　eyes　that　reminded　him　more　of　the　immortals　than　of　any　human　being。　But　the　prince　treated　him　with　rare　kindness　and　always　pressed　Nerle's　hand　affectionately　when　he　bade　him　good　night；　for　he　had　grown　fond　of　his　esquire。　　Also　they　had　long　conversations　together；　during　which　Nerle　gleaned　a　great　deal　of　knowledge　and　received　some　advice　that　was　of　much　use　to　him　in　his　later　life。
  One　day　Prince　Marvel　sought　out　Lady　Seseley　and　said：
  〃Will　you　ride　with　me　to　the　Forest　of　Lurla？〃
  〃Willingly；〃　she　answered；　and　calling　Berna　and　Helda　to　attend　them；　they　mounted　their　horses　and　rode　swiftly　away；　for　it　was　a　long　distance　to　Lurla。
  By　noon　the　party　entered　the　forest；　and　although　the　path　they　traversed　was　unknown　to　the　girls；　who　had　usually　entered　the　forest　from　its　other　side；　near　to　where　the　Baron　Merd's　castle　had　stood；　the　prince　seemed　to　have　no　difficulty　in　finding　his　way。
  He　guided　them　carefully　along　the　paths；　his　handsome　war…charger　stepping　with　much　grace　and　dignity；　until　at　length　they　came　to　a　clearing。
  Here　the　prince　paused　abruptly；　and　Seseley　looked　around　her　and　at　once　recognized　the　place。
  〃Why；〃　she　exclaimed；　in　surprise；　〃it　is　the　Fairy　Bower！〃
  And　then　she　turned　to　Prince　Marvel　and　asked　in　a　soft　voice：
  〃Is　the　year　ended；　Prince？〃
  His　smile　was　a　bit　sad　as　he　answered；　slowly：
  〃The　year　will　be　ended　in　five　minutes！〃
  26。　　The　End　of　the　Year
  The　girls　sat　upon　the　green　moss　and　waited。　　Prince　Marvel　stood　silent　beside　his　horse。　　The　silver　armor　was　as　bright　as　the　day　he　donned　it；　nor　was　there　a　dent　in　his　untarnished　shield。　　The　sword　that　had　done　such　good　service　he　held　lightly　in　his　hand；　and　the　horse　now　and　then　neighed　softly　and　turned　to　look　at　him　with　affectionate　eyes。
  Seseley　began　to　tremble　with　excitement；　and　Berna　and　Helda　stared　at　the　prince　with　big　round　eyes。
  But；　after　all；　they　saw　nothing　so　remarkable　as　they　expected。　　For　presentlyand　it　all　happened　in　a　flashPrince　Marvel　was　gone　from　their　midst；　and　a　handsome；　slender…limbed　deer　darted　from　the　bower　and　was　quickly　lost　in　the　thick　forest。　　On　the　ground　lay　a　sheet　of　bark　and　a　twig　from　a　tree；　and　beside　them　was　Lady　Seseley's　white　velvet　cloak。
  Then　the　three　girls　each　drew　a　long　breath　and　looked　into　one　another's　eyes；　and；　while　thus　engaged；　a　peal　of　silvery　laughter　sounded　in　their　ears　and　made　them　spring　quickly　to　their　feet。
  Before　them　stood　a　tiny　and　very　beautiful　fairy；　clothed　in　floating　gossamer　robes　of　rose　and　pearl　color；　and　with　eyes　sparkling　like　twin　stars。
  〃Prince　Marvel！〃　exclaimed　the　three；　together。
  〃No；　indeed！〃　cried　the　fairy；　with　a　pretty　little　pout。　　〃I　am　no　one　but　myself；　and；　really；　I　believe　I　shall　now　be　content　to　exist　for　a　few　hundred　years　in　my　natural　form。　　I　have　quite　enjoyed　my　year　as　a　mortal；　but　after　all　there　are；　I　find；　some　advantages　in　being　a　fairy。　　Good　by；　my　dears！〃
  And　with　another　ripple　of　laughter　the　pretty　creature　vanished；　and　the　girls　were　left　alone。
  27。　　A　Hundred　Years　Afterward
  About　a　hundred　years　after　Prince　Marvel　enjoyed　his　strange　adventures　in　the　Enchanted　Island　of　Yew　an　odd　thing　happened。
  A　hidden　mirror　in　a　crumbling　old　castle　of　Dawna　broke　loose　from　its　fastenings　and　fell　crashing　on　the　stone　pavement　of　the　deserted　hall。　　And　from　amid　the　ruins　rose　the　gigantic　form　of　a　man。　　His　hair　and　beard　were　a　fiery　red；　and　he　gazed　at　the　desolation　around　him　in　absolute　amazement。
  It　was　the　Red　Rogue　of　Dawna；　set　free　from　his　imprisonment。
  He　wandered　out　and　found　strange　scenes　confronting　him；　for　during　the　hundred　years　a　great　change　had　taken　place　in　the　Enchanted　Island。　　Great　cities　had　been　built　and　great　kingdoms　established。　Civilization　had　won　the　people；　and　they　no　longer　robbed　or　fought　or　indulged　in　magical　arts；　but　were　busily　employed　and　leading　respectable　lives。
  When　the　Red　Rogue　tried　to　tell　folks　who　he　was；　they　but　laughed　at　him；　thinking　the　fellow　crazy。　　He　tried　to　get　together　a　band　of　thieves；　as　Wul…Takim　had　done　in　the　old　days；　but　none　would　join　him。
  And　so；　forced　to　be　honest　against　his　will；　the　Rogue　was　driven　to　earn　a　living　by　digging　in　the　garden　of　a　wealthy　noble；　of　whom　he　had　never　before　heard。
  But　often　he　would　pause　in　his　labors　and　lean　on　his　spade；　while　thoughts　of　the　old　days　of　wild　adventure　passed　through　his　mind　in　rapid　succession；　and　then　the　big　man　would　shake　his　red　head　with　a　puzzled　air　and　mutter：
  〃I　wonder　who　that　Prince　Marvel　could　have　been！　　And　I　wonder　what　ever　became　of　him！〃
  The　End