The Happy Garden 



found her, and she dreamed that she was young 

 again, and everything was tremendously alive, and 

 trees were in blossom. Blackbirds fluted and out 

 of the woods there came a lovely creature who sang 

 a song to which there were no words, for none were 

 needed. Into Jane's heart the note of the song 

 sank, and she glowed all over and flew through the 

 air until she came to a city, and there in the count- 

 ing-house she found the King counting out his 

 money. She said : " I love you ! " 



He gave her a gold ring and went on counting 

 out his money, and said : " Now we are married." 



Jane was hurt, but, because she loved the King, 

 she was anxious to do what was best for him, and 

 so she let him go on counting his money, and said : 

 " Yes, I suppose we are married." 



But the song of the wood-nymph did not die 

 in her heart, but rang out and out and filled the 

 counting-house until the roof of it cracked and 

 let in the sun, and the gold looked dull and vulgar, 

 and it rolled away into the chinks and crannies of 

 the floor. At this the King was greatly surprised, 

 and he looked up, and for the first time in her life 

 he saw Jane's eyes. Then Jane knew that he had 

 heard the song that was in her heart, and she 

 almost choked with happiness when the King set 

 his golden crown rolling after the sovereigns and 



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