With the tread of a soldier, undaunted and unashamed, he left the room.

For a moment Arthur lifted his face with an expression of intense relief; but little by little his eyes darkened again and his head drooped.

“He has spared me—­yet to what end?” he mused.  “I have escaped for the moment, yet in a few days—­on what day none may tell—­a new jailor, a poisoned cup, a summons up a broken stairway in the dark, a ride on the river in a mist . . .  Ah, woe is me!  How shall I really escape?”

He stood disconsolate a moment, and then it seemed he saw Everychild for the first time:  Everychild, who came toward him, slowly yet with assurance.

“You shall come with me,” said Everychild.

And the prince replied indulgently, “With you, Everychild?  But whither are you going?”

“I fare forth to find the truth,” said Everychild.

Arthur replied:  “It seems you should be a prince if you would find it soon.  I shall find the truth before you, Everychild.”

“We shall find it together,” declared Everychild.

“I was near finding it now,” said Arthur; “and even yet I cannot think it is far away.”

But Everychild had gone to the window, evidently in the hope of seeing the giant, Will o’Dreams; and while Arthur looked after him hopelessly, Mr. Literal took occasion to say to the Masked Lady—­

“He is as beautiful as tradition has pictured him.  Small wonder that his foolish mother was moved to speak of him so eloquently.  Do you remember?—­

  “’Grief fills the room up of my absent child,
  Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me,
  Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words,
  Remembers me of all his gracious parts,
  Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form: 
  Then have I reason to be fond of grief.’”

Then the giant appeared at the window and there was a hurried conference between him and Everychild.  Soon the latter turned confidently toward Arthur.

“Come, you shall go with me,” said Everychild eagerly.

It seemed for an instant that the prince was really hopeful.  Then again his dark mood returned—­the mood of one who believes he is lost.  Yet nevertheless he put forth his hand to Everychild and said, “Yes, I will go with you.”

He approached the window with slow, majestic tread.  Once he shrank back and lifted his hands to his eyes.  Then he climbed resolutely to the window sill.  He could be seen for an instant, and then he disappeared.

Seeing that he had vanished, Everychild hurried to the window, his face elated.  “Splendid!” he cried.  “Now he shall be my companion to the end of time!”

Then the giant could be seen at the window.  He put forth his hands and lifted Everychild through the window.

A moment, and then Hubert de Burgh re-entered the room.  He cast a swift, agitated glance about the room, and soon he noted the open window.