So, down the road she went, looking anxiously on either side.  “If only I could come in sight of her, browsing in the clover, beside the wall,” sighed she; but she did not.

After a while, she saw a great cloud of dust in the distance.  It rolled nearer and nearer, and finally she saw the King on horseback, with a large party of nobles galloping after him.  The King, who was quite an old man, had a very long, curling, white beard, and had his breast completely covered with orders and decorations.  No convenient board fence on a circus day was ever more thoroughly covered with elephants and horses, and trapeze performers, than the breast of the King’s black velvet coat with jeweled stars and ribbons.  But even then, there was not room for all his store, so he had hit upon the ingenious expedient of covering a black silk umbrella with the remainder.  He held it in a stately manner over his head now, and it presented a dazzling sight; for it was literally blazing with gems, and glittering ribbons fluttered from it on all sides.

When the King saw Drusilla courtesying by the side of the road, he drew rein so suddenly, that his horse reared back on its haunches, and all his nobles, who always made it a point to do exactly as the King did—­it was court etiquette—­also drew rein suddenly, and all their horses reared back on their haunches.

“What will you, pretty maiden?” asked the King graciously.

“Please, your Majesty,” said Drusilla courtesying and blushing and looking prettier than ever, “have you seen my gold-horned cow?”

“Pardy,” said the King, for that was the proper thing for a King to say, you know, “I never saw a gold-horned cow in my life!”

Then Drusilla told him about her loss, and the King gazed at her while she was talking, and admired her more and more.

You must know that it had always been a great cross to the King and his wife, the Queen, that they had never had any daughter.  They had often thought of adopting one, but had never seen any one who exactly suited them.  They wanted a full-grown Princess, because they had an alliance with the Prince of Egypt in view.

The King looked at Drusilla now, and thought her the most beautiful and stately maiden he had ever seen.

“What an appropriate Princess she would make!” thought he.

“Suppose I should find the gold-horned cow for you,” said he to Drusilla, when she had finished her pitiful story, “would you consent to be adopted by the Queen and myself, and be a princess?”

Drusilla hesitated a moment.  She thought of her dear old father and how desolate he would be without her.  But then she thought how terribly distressed he would be at the loss of the gold-horned cow, and that if he had her back, she would be company for him, even if his daughter was away, and she finally gave her consent.

The King always had his Lord Chamberlain lead a white palfrey, with rich housings, by the bridle, in case they came across a suitable full-grown Princess in any of their journeys; and now he ordered him to be brought forward, and commanded a page to assist Drusilla to the saddle.