where for a long time he forgot all that had happened.

Meanwhile, two little twins, one a boy and the other a girl, who looked
like two little jewels, wandered, from I know not where, into the
palace and found Talia in a trance. At first they were afraid because
they tried in vain to awaken her; but, becoming bolder, the girl gently
took Talia's finger into her mouth, to bite it and wake her up by this
means; and so it happened that the splinter of flax came out. Thereupon
she seemed to awake as from a deep sleep; and when she saw those little
jewels at her side, she took them to her heart, and loved them more
than her life; but she wondered greatly at seeing herself quite alone
in the palace with two children, and food and refreshment brought her
by unseen hands.

After a time the King, calling Talia to mind, took occasion one day
when he went to the chase to go and see her; and when he found her
awakened, and with two beautiful little creatures by her side, he was
struck dumb with rapture. Then the King told Talia who he was, and they
formed a great league and friendship, and he remained there for several
days, promising, as he took leave, to return and fetch her.

When the King went back to his own kingdom he was for ever repeating
the names of Talia and the little ones, insomuch that, when he was
eating he had Talia in his mouth, and Sun and Moon (for so he named the
children); nay, even when he went to rest he did not leave off calling
on them, first one and then the other.

Now the King's stepmother had grown suspicious at his long absence at
the chase, and when she heard him calling thus on Talia, Sun, and Moon,
she waxed wroth, and said to the King's secretary, "Hark ye, friend,
you stand in great danger, between the axe and the block; tell me who
it is that my stepson is enamoured of, and I will make you rich; but if
you conceal the truth from me, I'll make you rue it."

The man, moved on the one side by fear, and on the other pricked by
interest, which is a bandage to the eyes of honour, the blind of
justice, and an old horse-shoe to trip up good faith, told the Queen
the whole truth. Whereupon she sent the secretary in the King's name to
Talia, saying that he wished to see the children. Then Talia sent them
with great joy, but the Queen commanded the cook to kill them, and
serve them up in various ways for her wretched stepson to eat.

Now the cook, who had a tender heart, seeing the two pretty little