lf.
To be within reach of his lost mother, and not to be able to speak to
her--it was too much!

He began to advance silently, leaving Everychild where he stood. He
proceeded, step by step, in the direction of the temple. And it began
to seem that he might reach the temple door without being seen.

Indeed, he actually did so. He laid his hand on the door of the
temple. The door would not open! But instead, something quite
dreadful happened.

In the back row of devotees sat one whom the giant had not yet seen.
It was Mr. Literal, seated on a pedestal marked with his name.

This person started up with a scream of fury. He had recognized the
giant.

"Up!" he cried to his fellow-devotees. "The evil son has returned.
Up, all of you, and defend the temple!"

The others were all thoroughly aroused. They turned their eyes toward
the temple and perceived the giant standing at the very door!

They sprang toward him with great fury. They quickly surrounded him.
It seemed that he must really perish before their wrath. And
then--then what happened?

Everychild could not stand idle and see his friend perish. He
bethought him of the sword the Masked Lady had given him. He drew the
sword quickly and with a loud cry he dashed toward the temple steps.

He gained the side of the giant; and then--what is this? _The devotees
all turned to cowering wretches_! They put forth their elbows to ward
off imaginary blows. They slunk back like base cowards.

They had seen the sword in Everychild's hand, and they had recognized
it!

Moreover, before the gleam of that sword the temple door swung open.

The giant dashed into the temple to greet his mother. He became for an
instant invisible. The devotees were now slinking back to a safe
distance. Everychild, without ever lowering his sword, smote them all
with his glance of scorn.

And then the giant reappeared. But oh, what a change had taken place
in him! He held his hands aloft in an agony of despair. He staggered
down the temple steps, followed by the wondering Everychild.

"What is it?" asked Everychild in distress. "What ails you?"

They were drawing away from the temple now, and the devotees were
thronging back to the open door. They surrounded it, closing it with
frenzied hands.

The giant drew apart, giving no explanation to Everychild just at
first. But standing alone and heart-broken he lifted his hands high.

"_She is gone!_" he cried in a hoars