in the wood!"

But Truth interposed: "It is not a time now to fix the blame, but to
make amends. Come, mother and father of Hansel and Grettel: can you
promise that hereafter you will love your children better than you love
yourselves?"

It was the father who replied, speaking in earnest tones: "Gladly shall
we deny ourselves hereafter, if need be, that our children may have
bread; and in all other ways we shall strive to show them that we love
them better than we love ourselves." To which the wife nodded once for
each word.

Whereupon Hansel and Grettel ran swiftly to their parents, who made a
way for them to pass behind the curtain, and they all disappeared.

And now Truth was crying out, "Mother of Cinderella, appear!"

Not only Cinderella's mother, but her sisters too (their curiosity
aroused to the topmost pitch) appeared before their curtain.

Said Truth, addressing the mother: "She whom the crystal slipper
fits--and well do you know her name--will return to you, forgiving and
forgetting all, if you will promise to love her better than you love
yourself."

"Ah," replied Cinderella's mother, "I've done that this long while, I
think--but how was I to let her know? Let her come to me this instant
and she shall never have cause to complain again!"

Then Cinderella approached her mother and received a kiss; and then her
mother led her solicitously into the space behind the curtain, the two
sisters following with awe-stricken faces.

For the first time now Truth faltered as if she had no heart for the
next task she had to perform. She was standing before the curtain on
which the likeness of the cruel King John was painted. And at last she
cried out:

"John, King of England, appear!"

There was a pause--and then an echo of sound. The curtain trembled; it
was pressed forward at one side. Slowly and with awful majesty King
John appeared. His crown was on his head, his kingly robe of ermine
fell from his shoulders, there was a kingly staff in his hand. His
eyes were like a storm-cloud, his brow like thunder.

It was now that Truth spoke more impressively than she had done before,
saying,--

"And you--it is true that you were not Prince Arthur's father, but only
his guardian. And yet it may be you would atone for your crimes
against the poor fatherless prince. Come, Sire--this boy who knew no
father save you: if I give him back into your keeping can you promise
to love him better than you love you