when he spoke, that he got into the way of keeping his
thoughts to himself. But everybody knew that he did not agree with
either of his brothers. His belief was that the present Age, with all
its faults, was the Golden Age for the people living in it. And there
is no doubt that that was the view of his sister Faith. For when at
any time he happened to let out even the tiniest word with that view in
it, she would come closer to him, lean up against his side, and give
him a hidden pressure of the hand.

III.

SEARCH FOR THE GOLDEN AGE.

When these views of the young Princes came to be known, the people took
sides, some with one Prince, some with another. The greatest number
sided with Yestergold, a number not so great with Goldmorrow, and a
few, and these for the most part of humble rank, with Goldenday. In a
short time nothing else was talked about, from one end of the kingdom
to the other, but the time of the Golden Age. And this became a
trouble to the King.

Now there happened to be living at that time in the palace a wise man,
a high Councillor of State, whom the King greatly esteemed, and whose
counsel he had often sought. To him in his trouble the King turned for
advice.

"Let not this trouble thee, O King," the Councillor said. "Both for
the Princes and the people it is good that thoughts on this subject
should come out into talk. But let the thoughts be put to the test.
Let the Princes, with suitable companions, be sent forth to search for
this Age of Gold. Although the Age itself, in its very substance, is
hid with God, there is a country in which shadows of all the Ages are
to be seen. In that country, the very clouds in the sky, the air which
men breathe, and the hills and woods and streams shape themselves into
images of the life that has been, or is to be among men. And whosoever
reaches that country and looks with honest, earnest eyes, shall see the
Age he looks for, just as it was or is to be, and shall know concerning
it whether it be his Age of Gold. At the end of a year, let the
travelers return, and tell before your Majesty and an assembly of the
people the story of their search." To this counsel the King gave his
assent. And he directed his sons to make the choice of their
companions and prepare for their journey.

Yestergold, for his companions, chose a painter and a poet. Goldmorrow
preferred two brothers of the Order of Watchers of the Sky. But
Goldenday said, "I shall