“He _did_!” the Princess closed the words off—snap!—so they were tight shut,—and the Others giggled. “Jason gave him some magic drops that put him to sleep, and carried off the fleece.” “What did they do to the Dragon when they found the fleece was gone?” “I wasn’t exactly there, Phyllisy; but you may judge by this, they made him a Star Person to reward him because he was a good reliable dragon until he met a Bewitchment that he couldn’t help.—And he’s very happy there in the Sky, half surrounding the indispensable Little Bear who carries the Sailor’s Star on the tip of his tail. He’s still guarding something very precious, you see.” “You haven’t told us about the indispensable little bear,” said Phyllisy. “Tell about little bear,” the Kitten murmured. “Tell us,” said Pat, coaxing the Princess’s hand up and down. The Princess didn’t answer at once. She was looking up into the twinkly blue—very far away—as if she were forgetting the Others. At last she spoke: “Little Bear is a very special friend and friend’s friend. I’d rather tell you about him another time,—when he isn’t listening.” “Can he hear?” Pat whispered it. “Surely,—and carry messages.” “Will he do it?” “He did,—brought me one and took one.” “Oh-h,—what did he say?” The Princess laid her fingers on her lips. “Is it secrets?” asked Phyllisy. “Long secrets.” Her voice smiled in the dusk. “But I’ll tell you the Word of it,—‘Faithful.’” The Sky was dark and deep and crowded with stars. They sat very still and mysterious while a wind came out of Beyond. They could hear it turning back the leaves in the treetops,—saying, “H—ss-sh—” as it passed through, and all the stars winked.— “Wake up, Kitten!” said the Princess. But she didn’t have to wake up entirely, for the Princess held her hand coming back, down the rocky steps and along the paths, and her feet walked themselves. II THE SAILOR’S STAR Quite suddenly the Princess was there, at the head of the path where four steps came down the terrace,—all silken and wonderful and growing up into a rose at the top, that wasn’t a rose but a hat! The Others dropped everything and ran, and she waited until they got there and hung on her arms. And they walked around her to look at it in the back. “What kind of a party was it?” asked Pat. “They were married and lived happy ever after, and there were bridesmaids all in a row,” said the Princess. “So there wasn’t any more to _that_;—and if anybody wanted me to tell them about how the Pole Star happened, I should say this was the most suitable time.” “It is for us, very convenient,” said Miss Phyllisy. “We’ll come this minute.” They waited while the Princess gathered up her skirt where it trailed,—soft outside, but fluffy under,—and threw it over her arm, to start fair: One, two, three, and away!