here was a distant murmur of
voices. Then again the music sounded, louder, with a quality of
triumph in it. Louder and louder it sounded.

The bridal party returned! Flower girls ran before, scattering
flowers. Everychild and the Sleeping Beauty appeared, followed by the
king and queen.

A great throng entered the room: lords and ladies, the companions of
Everychild, led now by Cinderella.

The bride and the bridegroom were surrounded. They were acclaimed in
loud voices. They were lifted aloft. The little black dog barked
madly.

Such a scene had never been witnessed before.

CHAPTER XXIV

TIME PASSES

The same room in the castle--the room where the pomp and ceremony had
been.

But it was empty now. The flowers which had been scattered on the
floor had been swept away. Silence reigned.

Presently two doors opened: one on the right, the other on the left.
But though the doors opened, not a sound was to be heard, and for an
instant no one appeared.

And then--some one was coming.

Father Time entered at one of the doors. He walked slowly and quietly
across the room. He carried his scythe and sand-glass. He glanced
neither to left nor right.

He went out at the other door!

PART V

ARGUMENT: ON HIS WANDERINGS EVERYCHILD BETHINKS HIM OF HIS PARENTS, AND
DISCOVERS THAT THOUGH HE HAS SEEMED TO LOSE THEM, HE HAS NOT REALLY
DONE SO.

CHAPTER XXV

WILL O'DREAMS REPORTS A DISCOVERY

We have seen how time passed in the castle where Everychild and his
companions had come to dwell. Now let us see what followed.

On a beautiful summer day Everychild and the Sleeping Beauty sat in the
great room of the golden furniture and the fire place and the alcove.
They occupied two little golden chairs near the middle of the room.
They were rocking placidly and saying nothing to each other. Now they
rocked backward and forward together, and again they rocked quite
contrariwise.

And what have we here? Close to the Sleeping Beauty there was a tiny
cradle, all of gold. And in it--well, you could see tresses of
wonderful golden hair, and the most marvelous blue eyes which would
open and shut, and a complexion which was simply perfect. Just now the
eyes were closed.

At a little distance from them there was a spectacle most beautiful to
behold. This was afforded by the Masked Lady and the task in which she
was engaged. She stood near an immense open window, beside the most
beautiful