Teddy thought awhile. "Then it must have been the wrong hall," he said.
"But never mind! I'll find him again, and this time I'll surely bring
him to you; only wait here no matter how long it is."

"Stop! oh, stop!" cried Starlein. She caught one of her doves in her
hands and held it out to Teddy. "Here, little boy," she said; "take this
with you, and if you can't find me again, give it to Silverling and tell
him he is to keep it for his very own."

"Yes, I will," said Teddy, and he took the dove and put it in the bosom
of his tunic, and it nestled there all warm and soft and still.

Then he turned and walked quietly down the hall and into another. He
went on and on, but he did not run and jump now, for he was thinking.
After a while, when he turned into another hall he once more saw
Silverling at play with his silver ball.

"Did you find her?" cried Silverling, eagerly.

"Yes," said Teddy, "I found her, and she sent you a dove for your very
own; but, Silverling, I think this. I think the only way for us ever to
find her together is for us to set the dove free, and to follow it when
it flies back to her."

"But we couldn't follow it," said Silverling. "It would fly so fast
that it would be out of sight in a minute."

"I know," said Teddy, "but we could tie something to it."

"What could we fasten to it?" asked Silverling.