My name is changed, for wise reasons; it is Hobbs -- John Hobbs; thine is Jack--charge thy memory accordingly.

Now, then, speak.

Where is thy mother?
Where are thy sisters?
They came not to the place appointed--knowest thou whither they went ?" The King answered sullenly-- "Trouble me not with these riddles.

My mother is dead; my sisters are in the palace." The youth near by burst into a derisive laugh, and the King would have assaulted him, but Canty--or Hobbs, as he now called himself--prevented him, and said-- "Peace, Hugo, vex him not; his mind is astray, and thy ways fret him.
Sit thee down, Jack, and quiet thyself; thou shalt have a morsel to eat, anon." Hobbs and Hugo fell to talking together, in low voices, and the King removed himself as far as he could from their disagreeable company.

He withdrew into the twilight of the farther end of the barn, where he found the earthen floor bedded a foot deep with straw.