And with that the man laughed too, and with the fuff of his laughter the
candle went out.

"Sleep," said the man, "for now I think you have come far enough; and
your quest is ended and my candle is out."

Now when the morning came, the man gave him a clear pebble in his hand,
and it had no beauty and no colour; and the elder son looked upon it
scornfully and shook his head; and he went away, for it seemed a small
affair to him.

All that day he rode, and his mind was quiet, and the desire of the
chase allayed. "How if this poor pebble be the touchstone, after all?"
said he: and he got down from his horse and emptied forth his wallet by
the side of the way. Now, in the light of each other, all the
touchstones lost their hue and fire, and withered like stars at morning;
but in the light of the pebble, their beauty remained, only the pebble
was the most bright. And the elder son smote upon his brow. "How if this
be the truth?" he cried, "that all are a little true?" And he took the
pebble and turned its light upon the heavens, and they deepened about
him like the pit; and he turned it on the hills, and the hills were cold
and rugged, but life ran in their sides so that his own life bounded;
and he turned it on the dust, and he beheld the dust with joy and
terror; and he turned it on himself, and knelt down and prayed.

"Now, thanks be to God," said the elder son, "I have found the
touchstone; and now I may turn my reins, and ride home to the King and
to the maid of the dun that makes my mouth to sing and my heart
enlarge."

Now when he came to the dun, he saw children playing by the gate where
the King had met him in the old days; and this stayed his pleasure, for
he thought in his heart, "It is here my children should be playing." And
when he came into the hall, there was his brother on the high seat and
the maid beside him; and at that his anger rose, for he thought in his
heart, "It is I that should be sitting there, and the maid beside me."

"Who are you?" said his brother. "And what make you in the dun?"

"I am your elder brother," he replied. "And I am come to marry the maid,
for I have brought the touchstone of truth."

Then the younger brother laughed aloud. "Why," said he, "I found the
touchstone years ago, and married the maid, and there are our children
playing at the gate."

Now at this the elder brother grew as grey as the dawn. "I pray you have
dealt justly," said he, "for I perceive my life is lost