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choice did not depend on herselfshe could only be won by him who
deserved her； and for three years they were to be on their probation；
trying for her。 So she dismissed them； only burning to gain her； and
telling them to come back in three years' time。 But they had not
gone far before they saw another palace； much finer； all glittering
with gold and silver； and their Lady Gloria came out to meet them；
not in her white dress； but in one all gay and bright with fine
colours； and her crown they now saw was of diamonds。 She told them
they had only seen her everyday dress and house； this was her best；
and she showed them about the castle； and all the pictures of her
former lovers。 There was Alexander； who had been nearer retaining
her than any one； only the fever prevented it； there was Pyrrhus；
always seeking her； but slain by a tile； Julius CaesarTamerlane
all the rest； and she hoped that one of these two would really prove
worthy and gain her； by going in the same path as these great people。
〃So our prince went home； his head full of being like Alexander and
all the rest of them； and he sent for his good old tutor to reckon up
his armies； and see whom he could conquer in order to win her。 But
the old tutor told him he was under a mistake； the second lady he had
seen was a treacherous cousin of Gloria； who drew away her suitors by
her deceits； and whose real name was Vana Gloria。 If he wished to
earn the true Gloria； he must set to work to do his subjects good；
and to be virtuous。 And he did； he taught them； and he did justice
to them； and he bore it patiently and kindly when they did not
understand。 But by…and…by the other king； who had no good tutor to
help him； had got his armies together； and conquered ever so many
people； and drawn off their men to be soldiers； and now he attacked
the good prince； and was so strong that he gained the victory； though
both prince and subjects fought manfully with heart and hand； but the
battle was lost； and the faithful prince wounded and made prisoner；
but bearing it most patiently； till he was dragged behind the other's
triumphal car with all the rest； when the three years were up； to be
presented to Vana Gloria。 And so he was carried into the forest；
bleeding and wounded； and his enemy drove the car over his body； and
stretched out his arms to Vana Gloria； and found her a vain； ugly
wretch； who grew frightful as soon as he grasped her。 But the good
dying prince saw the beautiful beamy face of his ladylove bending
over him。 'Oh！' he said； 'vision of my life； hast thou come to
lighten my dying eyes？ Nevernever； even in my best days； did I
deem that I could be worthy of thee； the more I strove； the more I
knew that Gloria is for none belowfor me less than all。'
〃And then the lady came and lifted him up； and she said； 'Gloria is
given to all who do and suffer truly in a good cause； for
faithfulness is glory； and that is thine。'〃
Ethel's language had become more flowing as she grew more eager in
the tale； and they all listened with suspended interest。 Norman
asked where she got the story。 〃Out of an old French book； the
'Magazin des enfans；'〃 was the answer。
〃But why did you alter the end？〃 said Flora； 〃why kill the poor man？
He used to be prosperous； why not？〃
〃Because I thought；〃 said Ethel； 〃that glory could not properly
belong to any one here； and if he was once conscious of it； it would
be all spoiled。 Well； Meta； do you guess？〃
〃Oh！ the word！ I had forgotten all about it。 I think I know what it
must be； but I should so like another story。 May I not have one？〃
said Meta coaxingly。 〃Mary； it is you。〃
Mary fell back on her papa； and begged him to take hers。 Papa told
the best stories of all； she said； and Meta looked beseeching。
〃My story will not be as long as Ethel's；〃 said the doctor； yielding
with a half…reluctant smile。 〃My story is of a humming…bird； a
little creature that loved its master with all its strength； and
longed to do somewhat for him。 It was not satisfied with its lot；
because it seemed merely a vain and profitless creature。 The
nightingale sang praise； and the woods sounded with the glory of its
strains； the fowl was valued for its flesh； the ostrich for its
plume； but what could the little humming…bird do； save rejoice in the
glory of the flood of sunbeams； and disport itself over the flowers；
and glance in the sunny light； as its bright breastplate flashed from
rich purple to dazzling flame…colour； and its wings supported it；
fluttering so fast that the eye could hardly trace them； as it darted
its slender beak into the deep…belled blossoms。 So the little bird
grieved； and could not rest； for thinking that it was useless in this
world； that it sought merely its own gratification； and could do
nothing that could conduce to the glory of its master。 But one night
a voice spoke to the little bird； 'Why hast thou been placed here；'
it said； 'but at the will of thy master？ Was it not that he might
delight himself in thy radiant plumage； and see thy joy in the
sunshine？ His gifts are thy buoyant wing； thy beauteous colours； the
love of all around； the sweetness of the honey…drop in the flowers；
the shade of the palm leaf。 Esteem them； then； as his； value thine
own bliss； while it lasts； as the token of his care and love； and
while thy heart praises him for them； and thy wings quiver and dance
to the tune of that praise； then； indeed； thy gladness conduces to no
vain…glory of thine own； in beauty； or in graceful flight； but thou
art a creature servingas best thou canst to his glory。'〃
〃I know the word；〃 half whispered Meta； not without a trembling of
the lip。 〃I know why you told the story； Dr。 May； but one is not as
good as the humming…birds。〃
The elder ladies had begun to look at watches； and talk of time to go
home； and Jem Jemmings having been seen rearing himself up from
behind the barrow； the doctor proceeded to investigate his case； was
perfectly satisfied of the boy's truth； and as ready as the young
ones to befriend him。 A letter should be written at once； desiring
his father to look out for him on Friday； when he should go by the
same train as Harry； who was delighted at the notion of protecting
him so far； and begged to be allowed to drive him home to
Stoneborough in the gig。
Consent was given； and Richard being added to give weight and
discretion； the gig set out at oncethe doctor； much to Meta's
delight； took his place in the brake。 Blanche； who； in the morning；
had been inclined to despise it as something akin to a cart； now
finding it a popular conveyance； was urgent to return in it； and
Flora was made over to the carriage； not at all unwillingly； for；
though it separated her from Meta； it made a senior of her。
Norman's fate conveyed him to the exalted seat beside the driver of
the brake； where he could only now and then catch the sounds of mirth
from below。 He had enjoyed the day exceedingly； with that sort of
abandon more than ordinarily delicious to grave or saddened
temperaments； when roused or drawn out for a time。 Meta's winning
grace and sweetness had a peculiar charm for him； and； perhaps； his
havin