that even King Pluto had never been happy ir
his palace, and that this was the true reason why
he had stolen away Proserpina, in order that he
might have something to love, instead of cheat-
ing his heart any longer with this tiresome mag
nificence. And, though he pretended to dislike
the sunshine of the upper world, yet the effect of
the child's presence, bedimmed as she was by her
tears, was as if a faint and watery sunbeam had
somehow or other found its way into the en-
chanted hall.

Pluto now summoned his domestics, and bade
them lose no time in preparing a most sumptu-
ous banquet, and above all things, not to fail of
setting a golden beaker of the water of Lethe
by Proserpina's plate.

"I will neither drink that nor any thing else,"
said Proserpina. "Nor will I taste a morsel
of food, even if you keep me forever in your
palace."

"I should be sorry for that," replied King
Pluto, patting her cheek; for he really wished
to be kind, if he had only known how. "You
are a spoiled child, I perceive, my little Proser-
pina; but when you see the nice things which

[[230]]

p229 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p230w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p231

v?