verhead in large soft masses, bordered with
a silvery edge. Star never noticed these things; he was indignant at the
neglect, as he deemed it, which had been shewn him of late. His pride
and spirit--and Starlings are not deficient in either--had sustained
grievous injury; and he felt that, without due reparation made to him,
he could not, consistently with honour, sign a treaty of reconciliation.

Fritz mistook these indications altogether--and who can blame him? What
the world calls dignity is not unfrequently mere sulk. How should
poor Fritz make distinctions great Ministers and Princes are sometimes
incapable of?

The end of all this was a struggle, a long and violent struggle, on each
side for the ascendancy. Fritz, however, had the advantage, for he could
starve out the enemy--a harsh measure, no doubt, but greater folks
have adopted even more severe ones to enforce their principles. Fritz,
besides, had all the stern enthusiasm of a fanatic in the cause. The
dark zeal of the Holy Office itself never enforced its decrees with more
inflexible purpose than did he his. "Accept this creed, or die in your
sins," was, if not exactly his dictum, certainly his full meaning.
Star stood out long, so long that Fritz began at last to fear that the
creature meditated martyrdom, and in this dread he relaxed somewhat of
his prison discipline.

It would scarcely be instructive--not any more than amusing--to recount
the painful progress of this long contest--a contest, after all, in
which there is nothing new to any reader of history; for when force is
on one side and weakness on the other, the result may be deferred but is
never doubtful. It is enough that we say, Star made submission. True, it
was the submission of coercion--no matter for that, it was submission;
for after three weeks of various successes on either side, the creature
greeted Fritz one morning as he arose with a feint cry of "Maria,
Maria!"

This was enough, more than enough, and Fritzerl could have hugged him to
his heart.

His authority recognised, his will acknowledged, he was but too happy
to take his rebellious subject into full favour again. Whether Star felt
the benefits of his changed conduct so very satisfactory to his comfort,
or that he was really disposed to please his master, I cannot say; but,
from that hour out, he laboured strenuously to learn his new profession
of faith, and screamed "Maria!" from day-dawn to dusk. The two
following words wer