ead and apprehension, worn with
wracking worry, poor Seemsto-Be sought with honors, decorations, and
distinguishing titles to hold the fast-failing confidence of his court
and army, and with holidays more frequent, festivals more gay, games
more interesting, and parades more gorgeous, tried to keep the waning
loyalty of his people.

Now all this time, while the poor foolish pretender, Seemsto-Be, was
losing his power even as the beauty of the Magic Crown was fading, King
Really-Is lived very quietly in his little house under the walls of the
abandoned temple, and never did he fail to make his daily offering to
his god, the god Things-That-Ought-To-Be. And always when his brother
Seemsto-Be with the fading Crown upon his head, passed in gorgeous
procession of state, surrounded by his distrustful officers, doubting
soldiers and suspicious people, Really-Is smiled sadly and whispered to
himself: "Poor Seemsto-Be, poor foolish one!"

So it was, that in all the Royal City Daybyday, in the Land of
Allthetime, peace and understanding dwelt only in the heart of this
King.

And the people more and more came to love Really-Is, even as they more
and more turned from Seemsto-Be, notwithstanding the holidays, feasts
and parades. Little by little, they learned to watch daily for their
King, and with the children would run to greet him. More and more the
multitude pressed about Really-Is when he stood quietly in the street,
watching Seemsto-Be pass by in the splendid chariot of state. More and
more the people went daily with Really-Is to worship in the temple
sacred to the god Things-That-Ought-To-Be.

So the time came at last when the Magic Crown, tarnished and dull,
seemed but a mockery, fit only for the rubbish heap; when the Officers
of State spoke aloud their doubts and fears and the soldiers were openly
disobedient; when the people, as the pretender passed through the city
streets, no longer shouted aloud expressions of their loyalty, but, with
dark looks of doubt and anger, stood silent, or laughed in mocking glee.

And Seemsto-Be grew afraid.

Then in secret the false prince went alone to the house of his brother
the King and prostrated himself humbly.

"What is your wish, my brother?" asked Really-Is, kindly, "make known to
me your request."

And Seemsto-Be taking heart at the gentleness of Really-Is answered:
"This is my wish, O King--my brother, this is my request; that you come
to dwell with me in the royal palac