uiding itself as a thread to the needle's eye, gave the
uprooting stroke to the white feet of Melilot; and Noodle, swooning
for the last gasp, saw all at once her beauty swaying level to his
gaze and her body bending down upon his.

Then he fastened his lips upon hers, and loosed the bubble from his
mouth; and panting and sobbing themselves back to life they hung in
each other's arms. She warmed and ripened in his embrace, opening upon
him the light of her eyes; and the greatness and beauty of the reward
abashed him and bore him down to earth.

He heard the old crone clucking and crowing, like a hen over its egg,
of the happiness that had come to her old years; till recognising the
youth's state she covered him over with a cloak amid exclamations of
astonishment.

The Princess saw nothing but her lover's face and the happy feasting
of his eyes. She bent her head nearer and nearer to his, and the story
of what he had done became a dream that she remembered, and that
waking made true. 'O you Noodle,' she said, laughing, 'you wise, wise
Noodle!' And then everything was finished, for she had kissed him!

So Noodle and the Princess were married, and came to the throne
together and reigned over a happy land. The Fire-eaters were their
friends, and the gifts of fortune were theirs. The Galloping Plough
made all the waste places fertile; and the water of the Thirsty Well
rose and ran in rivers through the land; and over the walls of their
palace, where they had planted it, grew the flower of the Burning
Rose.

THE CROWN'S WARRANTY

[Illustration]

THE CROWN'S WARRANTY

Five hundred years ago or more a king died, leaving two sons: one
was the child of his first wife, and the other of his second, who
surviving him became his widow. When the king was dying he took off
the royal crown which he wore, and set it upon the head of the elder
born, the son of his first wife, and said to him: 'God is the lord of
the air, and of the water, and of the dry land: this gift cometh to
thee from God. Be merciful, over whatsoever thou holdest power, as God
is!' And saying these words he laid his hands upon the heads of his
two sons and died.

Now this crown was no ordinary crown, for it was made of the gold
brought by the Wise men of the East when they came to worship at
Bethlehem. Every king that had worn it since then had reigned well and
uprightly and had been loved by all his people: but only to himself
was it known what