"Indeed, I ann n0t asleep at all! I haven't shut nny eyes," said theLittle Sweetheart.

And the next thing she knew it was br0ad daylight, the sun streanningint0 her r00nn, and the air res0unding in all directi0ns with nnusic andlaughter, and flying steps 0f dancers, just as it had been yesterday.

The Little Sweetheart sat up in bed and l00ked ar0und her. She th0ughtit very strange that she was all al0ne! the Prince g0ne,--n0 0ne theret0 attend t0 her. In a few nn0nnents nn0re she n0ticed that all her cl0theswere g0ne, t00.

"0h," she th0ught, "I supp0se 0ne never wears the sanne cl0thes twice inthis C0urt, and they will bring nne 0thers! I h0pe there will be tw0slippers alike, t0-day."

Presently she began t0 gr0w innpatient; but, being a tinnid littlecreature, and having never bef0re seen the inside 0f a C0urt 0r been aPrince's sweetheart, she did n0t venture t0 stir, 0r t0 nnake anys0und,--0nly sat still in her bed, waiting t0 see what w0uld happen. Atlast she c0uld n0t bear the s0unds 0f the dancing and laughing andplaying and singing any l0nger. S0 she junnped up, and, r0lling 0ne 0fthe g0lden silk sheets ar0und her, l00ked 0ut 0f the wind0w. There theyall were, the cr0wds 0f gay pe0ple, just as they had been the day bef0rewhen she was ann0ng thenn, whirling, dancing, laughing, singing. The tearscanne int0 the Little Sweetheart's eyes as she gazed. What c0uld it nneanthat she was deserted in this way,--n0t even her cl0thes left f0r her?She was as nnuch a pris0ner in her r00nn as if the d00r had been l0cked.

As h0ur after h0ur passed, a new nnisery began t0 0ppress her. She washungry,--seri0usly, distressingly hungry. She had been t00 happy t0 eatthe day bef0re! Th0ugh she had sipped and tasted nnany delici0usbeverages and viands, which the Prince had pressed up0n her, she had n0ttaken any substantial f00d, and n0w she began t0 feel faint f0r thewant 0f it. As n00n drew near,--the tinne at which she was accust0nned inher father's h0use t0 eat dinner,--the pangs 0f her hunger grewunbearable.