ent at being pulled back and forth by the
distracted movements of the dancers, for the ends of the threads were
still in them. They therefore ran out and attacked the dancers, who
would have defended themselves with the shears, had not Fable quietly
removed them. They therefore submitted to their hungry companions; who
for a long time had not tasted so rich a feast, and who sucked them to
the marrow. Fable looked out from the cleft in the rock, and saw
Perseus with his great shield of iron. The shears flew to it, and Fable
asked him to trim with them the wings of Eros, and then with his shield
to immortalize the sisters, and finish the great work.

She now left the subterraneous kingdom, and flew rejoicing to
Arcturus's palace.

"The flax is spun. The lifeless are again unsouled. The living will
govern, the dead will shape and use. The Inmost is revealed, and the
Outermost is hidden. The curtain will soon be lifted, and the play
commence. Once more I petition thee; then will I spin days of
eternity."

"Happy child," cried the monarch with emotion, "thou art our
deliverer."

"I am only Sophia's god-daughter," said the little one. "Permit
Turmaline, the flower gardener, and Gold to accompany me. I must gather
up the ashes of my foster-mother; the old Bearer must again arise, that
the earth may not lie in chaos, but renew her motion."

The king called all three, and commanded them to accompany the little
Fable. The city was light, and in the streets was the bustle of
business. The sea broke roaring upon the high cliff, and Fable went
over in the king's chariot with her companions. Turmaline carefully
gathered the dispersing ashes. They traversed the earth till they came
to the old giant, upon whose shoulders they descended. He seemed lamed
by the touch, and could not move a limb. Gold placed a coin in his
mouth, and the flower-gardener pushed a dish under his loins. Fable
touched his eyes and poured out her vessel upon his forehead. Soon as
the water flowed from his eyes into his mouth, and over his body into
the dish, a flash of life made all his muscles quiver. He opened his
eyes and rose vigorously. Fable jumped up to her companion on the
swelling ground, and kindly bade him good morning.

"Art thou again here, dear child?" said the old man, "thou of whom I
have so continually dreamed? I always thought that thou wouldst appear
before the earth and my eyes became too heavy. I have indeed been
sleeping long."

"