"Then there will always be. I think it was Happiness because she went
away so quickly."

"Happiness does. Did you try to hold her?"

"So hard! But I was clumsy and rough. She slipped through my arms."

"Did she leave nothing?"

"Nothing."

"Then what is this?" I lifted from the ground at his feet a single petal
of pink rose, fragrant, unwithered, and placed it in his hand.

"The fairy's kiss," he said dreamily. "That's for farewell."

The moon, dipped beyond a cloud, dissolved the spell. Youth straightened
up brusquely on its bench, rubbing enchantment from its eyes.

"Have I been talking in my sleep, Dominie?"

"Possibly."

"What kind of talk? Nonsense?"

"Nonsense--or wisdom. How should I know?"

"Dominie, is there a perfume in the air? A smell of roses?"