As soon as she got up she found the branch in her bouquet.
When the sisters went down she stayed a little behind and said to
the cow-boy: `Where does this branch come from?'

`Your Royal Highness knows well enough,' answered Michael.

`So you have followed us?'

`Yes, Princess.'

`How did you manage it? we never saw you.'

`I hid myself,' replied the Star Gazer quietly.

The Princess was silent a moment, and then said:

`You know our secret!--keep it. Here is the reward of your
discretion.' And she flung the boy a purse of gold.

`I do not sell my silence,' answered Michael, and he went away
without picking up the purse.

For three nights Lina neither saw nor heard anything
extraordinary; on the fourth she heard a rustling among the diamond-
spangled leaves of the wood. That day there was a branch of the
trees in her bouquet.

She took the Star Gazer aside, and said to him in a harsh voice: