re coming in two when the parting drew
near. How lingeringly the little queen drew up the sheet over her
face, when her lover did not return, and let it fall to cover her with
a quiet sigh. Often he cried when she did that part, so like Grendel
was it,--the tender waiting, and the last giving in! And then, how the
little king shuddered as he drew the cloth from her face; and how he
threw the flowers, as if there were not enough in the world to express
his grief! And yet it was only a play, made by the twitching of the
strings tied to his fingers, with love as the beginning and end of it.

Killian was getting quite rich in copper coin, so he sent some of it
home to Grendel, that she might buy stock for the home that was so
soon to be theirs. And presently he made bold to go into the towns,
where, instead of copper, he might gain silver. He built a bigger
stage, and had more music to go to the dance; but still it was the
story of himself and Grendel, with crowns upon their heads, and
nothing more.

And now, indeed, people began to cry, 'Here is a wonderful new actor!
He has it all at the ends of his fingers! What a pity he has no better
play in which to show himself off!' But Killian said, 'It is the only
play I know how to do.'

Presently there came a sharp fellow to him, who said: 'If you will
go shares with me, I will make your fortune. We have only to put our
heads together, and the thing is done. I will write the plays for you,
and you shall play them on the strings. What is wanted is a little
more real life.'

Killian was a simple fellow, who believed all the world to be wiser
than himself. He was glad enough to meet with a clever fellow who
could write plays for him. His partner wanted him to make new dresses
for the marionettes, to suit their new parts; but to that Killian
would not agree. So whatever they were they still wore their broad
hats and crowns, and their wooden shoes, that still he might watch
in his own mind himself and Grendel making their way to fortune and
happiness.

The marionettes grew bewildered with their new taking; they did not
understand the meaning of all the coarse things they had to do. So in
the middle of a play, the little queen would fail now and then in
her part, and move awkwardly, wondering what her lover meant when he
sprawled to and fro, and seemed trying to find in the air more feet
than he had upon the ground.

Yet the crowd found her bashful fear so irresistibly funny,