So then he knew that the king had been carried away by the fairies of the lake--the same fairies who had given him the sword in old days, and who had loved him and watched over him all his life.

But what did the king mean by saying, 'I shall come again' ?" Then Aunt Emma stopped and looked at the children.
"What did he mean, auntie ?" asked Milly, who had been listening with all her ears, and whose little eyes were wet, "and did he ever come back again ?" "Not while the knight lived, Milly.

He grew to be quite an old man, and was always hoping that the fairies would bring the king again.

But the king never came, and his friend died without seeing him." "But did he _ever_ come again ?" asked Olly.
"I don't know, Olly.

Some people think that he is still hidden away somewhere by the kind water-fairies, and that some day, when the world wants him very much, he will come back again." "Do you think he is here in this lake ?" whispered Milly, looking at the water.
"How can we tell what's at the bottom of the lake ?" said Aunt Emma, smiling.