ance would come jerking out grinning and
laughing in a horrible manner. At the same time it grew unquiet in the
cupboards round the room, and a great bird appeared, flapping about in
wavering, irregular flight with whirring wings that glittered like
gold. Darkness was falling fast, and Wolfframb began to feel profound
alarm. Klingsohr took a stone out of a case, which immediately diffused
a light as bright as the sun through the room. On this all grew still,
and Wolfframb saw and heard no more of that which had caused his
uneasiness.

"'Two servants, dressed in the same strange fashion, in many-coloured
silks, as the one who had opened the door at first, came in with
magnificent garments, in which they dressed their master. And then
Klingsohr and Wolfframb went out together to the Town-Cellar.

"'They drank to friendship and reconciliation, and they sang against
each other in all the most skilful and artful "manners." There was no
other master present to decide which of them was the victor, but had
there been one he would doubtless have declared that Klingsohr had the
worst of it. For with the utmost efforts of his art and intelligence he
never in the least attained to the power and sweetness of the simple
songs which Wolfframb sung.

"'The latter had just ended one of his most successful essays when
Master Klingsohr leaned back in his chair, and said, in a low, gloomy
tone:

"'"You called me vain and braggart, Master Wolfframb; but you would
much mistake me if you supposed that I was so blinded by vanity that I
should not recognize the true art of song wherever I come across
it--were it in the wilderness, or in the master's hall. There is none
here to judge between you and me; but I tell you that you have
vanquished me Master Wolfframb: and, by my so saying, you may recognize
the genuineness of my art."

"'"Oh, good Master Klingsohr," said Wolfframb, "it may be that a
certain special sense of happiness which I feel within me to-night may
have made my efforts more successful than they may be at other times.
Far be it from me to rank myself higher than you on that account.
Perhaps your heart was heavy to-day--how often it happens that a heavy
weight seems to lie upon one, like mists resting upon a meadow, and
hindering the flowers from lifting up their heads. You may say you are
vanquished to-night, but nevertheless I admired much in your beautiful
songs, and you may very probably gain the victory to-morrow."

"'