w at first trial you equal poor me, who have been at it for
months! It had better be you, after all, to do the play when it is
called for at the court.' And this Killian proposed truly out of pure
modesty, but also because he did not like the play his partner had
made for him. 'It is too cruel a one!' he said. 'After they have
played it together so long, I feel as if my two puppets can do nothing
else so well as love each other, and live happily.'

'Ah, but,' said his partner, 'the queen would find that very dull!'
Killian could not see why, but he believed that the townsman was wiser
than himself, and gave in. All he wanted now was to get money enough
to run back home with, and throw himself into his dear Grendel's arms
for life.

So they journeyed on, and at last, one day, they came in sight of
the capital. But it had been such a long way to come that when they
reached the gates they found them shut.

The night was warm, and a high moon was overhead. 'Come,' said
Killian, 'and let us lie down in one of these orchards that are
outside the walls!' So they left the high-road, and went and lay down.

First they ate some food that they carried with them. Then Killian
opened the case in which lay the two marionettes, and looked them over
to see that they were in working order. His partner took up the odd
number, and began practising it; but Killian's attention all went to
the little king cow-herd and his queen.

He fondled them gently with his hands, and as he looked at them his
heart went up into the mountains to pray for his dear Grendel.

Presently he began dreaming to himself like Jacob, only his dream was
just of the simple things of earth. Down the great green uplands came
troops of white cattle; but to him they seemed to be bridesmaids
coming to Grendel's wedding day, and the ringing of the cow-bells was
as sweet to him as the songs of angels. Before he was fast asleep the
two marionettes had slipped off his knee and lay in the deep grass
looking up at the sky.

* * * * *

They had never seen so beautiful a sight before, for never had they
spent a night in the sweet open air till now. Over their heads swung
dusky clusters of blossom, that would look white by day; and over them
the moon went kissing its way from star to star.

Now and then single blossoms dropped as if they had something to say
to the little cow-herd and his queen, lying there in the cool grass.

But the mari