Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/168

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THE CHILDREN

THE WITCH'S CURSE

THEY sent messengers before them to announce their coming. And at last they came to a hill that overlooked the Emperor's city with its silver steeples and its golden domes. While they were on that hill they heard the bells ringing to the east and the west, to the north and the south to give them welcome, and to bid the people rejoice that the Emperor's son was coming to his father's city. Valentine was overwearied, and he laid his head upon the lap of Golden Hood and he went to sleep. Golden Hood sat with his head on her lap; she looked out to the city, and she heard nothing but the bells that were ringing and ring-

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