so very selfish. During meal-times
he ate alone, without inviting the rest of his family to eat with him.

One day Fernando said to his wife, "You must send our two children
away. If my command is not executed, your life shall answer for your
disobedience." The broken-hearted mother summoned her children,
and with tears in her eyes told them of the cruel order of their
father. The children had to obey their father, for they feared him,
and so set off for the mountains. For many days they wandered around,
living on wild fruits, and sleeping under trees.

One day Juan was greatly surprised to hear Maria ask for some water
to drink, for she had never spoken before. They were far from any
stream, and Juan did not know what to do to satisfy his sister. At
last he climbed a tree to see whether there was any water near by,
and he saw in a valley not far off a beautiful house surrounded with
flowers. Juan quickly came down the tree, and the two children set
out for the house. When they reached it, they knocked at the door,
but no one answered. After knocking again in vain, the boy decided to
enter. He pushed open the door, and found himself in a golden salon,
luxuriously furnished with gold and silver chairs. On the silver wall
hung an image of the Immaculate Conception. The two children knelt down
in front of the image and prayed. Then they went to the dining-room,
where they found a golden table with exquisite dishes of all kinds.

Several years passed by. Under the care of the Virgin, Maria grew to
be a beautiful young woman. One day, as Maria was praying, the Virgin
spoke to her through the image. She said that the gallant prince of
Borgona would come to the mountains to hunt deer, and that he would
lose his way in the woods. He would come to their house to ask for
some water, and would fall in love with Maria. Everything turned out
as had been predicted. The gallant prince was so attracted by the
beauty and grace of Maria, that he could not help saying to her,
"I love you." With the consent of her guardian the Virgin, Maria
accepted the Prince of Borgona, and the day for their wedding was
set. The king, his son, and all the nobility of Borgona, set out for
the mountains to get Maria, and on their arrival were surprised at
the magnificence of her house. The bishop who was with the company
married the couple, and all the retinue went back to the capital.

When Juan now found himself left all alone in the house, he knelt