There in the Forest Kingdom lived the good Hermit and John his nephew, with their circle of pets.  And these also went back and forth between the forest and the city.  For John was the Prince’s dear friend and companion, and spent many weeks of the year in the palace with the two whom he loved.  His pets were as eagerly welcomed there as he.  Brutus had his own rug by the young King’s fireplace.  The wolf made a faithful guardian of the palace gate, while John was inside.  Bruin wandered about the halls at his pleasure.  The cat purred contentedly on the brocade furniture, with ever-new kittens frisking about her.  The raven often perched on the back of King Hugh’s chair and made wise sounds.  And while waiting to carry a message to the Hermit in the forest, the carrier pigeon loved to nestle in the arms of the young Princess, who grew prettier and prettier every day.

To the Kingdom in the Forest came folk from everywhere.  The quiet of the Hermit’s retreat was often broken.  But nevertheless the old man was happy.  For he saw his boy fast growing into the man he had hoped him to be, the copy of his father, beloved John.  With the silver Cross on his bosom, the strange, merry smile ever on his face, and a kind word always on his lips, John ministered to all who needed him; and he went far and wide to find them.  He was always happy, whatever he might be doing; alone with the Hermit and his animal friends; helping the troubled and the ailing; wandering with Brutus and the wolf through the still lonely parts of the wood; studying the never-failing wonders of the Kingdom in the Forest.  But he was happiest of all, perhaps, when the King and Princess came to visit him, as they loved to do,—­without servants or followers, with only an animal or two.  For this country was the safest and most peaceful in the world.

[Illustration:  King and Princess came to visit him.]

Then they would all dress in simple green and brown and go out into the forest to ramble and to become acquainted with the wild creatures.  There they met the old friends of the wood who had not gone with the others on that famous pilgrimage.  And the deer, the fox, the squirrel, the rabbits, and the birds were always glad to see them.

Here John could teach the young King to tumble and turn somersaults to his heart’s delight, without any one to say, “How undignified!” For whatever the friendly beasts and birds thought of these antics, they never spoke critically of the matter.

Here also John taught the Princess the secret lore of the forest, so that she became almost as wise and skillful as he.  But no one could say, “How unladylike!” For she grew sweeter and dearer every day.

And the good old Hermit watched them always with loving eyes.