“What utter nonsense!” shouted a little bird saucily, flying from the low branches of a tulip tree. “I serve no one; I just have lots of fun, and I’m going to have an exciting fly—and that’s something little boys can’t do, for they haven’t even any pin feathers!” The cocky way the little bird flapped her wings and tossed her head made Philippe double up with laughter. “See!” said the little rebel’s mate, flying close. “You have made the King laugh, so your empty boasting has broken like a bubble, for laughter is one of the greatest services in the world! And as for going on your wild flight, have you forgotten our pretty blue eggs in their soft brown nest?” “I am a King!” said Philippe in a daze of wonderment. “My darling Avril, tell me what I can do to show my gratitude to all my servants.” “They love nothing better than that you use them, Philippe. Use them wisely and well, and not only for yourself—but for others.” And gentle Spring kissed him upon the lips, filling his heart with love and happiness. “It is high time,” said Philippe’s mother to Philippe’s father, “that our little one was back. Soon it will be dark.” She went to the doorway and gazed across the fields. “Here comes Pablôt,” she called back into the room, “and he is carrying the child in his arms.” “Sh-h-h-h-h!” breathed Uncle Pablôt, drawing close. “Take your son gently into your arms; he has been sleeping bravely all the way from his grandparents’. And here,” said Uncle Pablôt, “is his little silver whistle, by which I hope that he will remember me when he wakes up and finds me gone.” [Illustration] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES 1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. 2. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dream Coach, by Anne Parrish and Dillwyn Parrish