fades as the_ PRIEST _turns and blesses her. She rises trying to
hide her chagrin in a look of great hauteur, crosses to the right
and stands near the man in black and gold with whom she exchanges
disdainful smiles over the next arrival._)

(_An old white haired man clad in a scholar's robes totters on,
bearing with difficulty a large vellum bound book. The_ PRIEST
_takes a step forward to relieve the Old Man of his burden, and as
he goes up the altar steps the Sage sinks exhausted to his knees,
listening with straining senses for the bells.--They do not ring.
The_ PRIEST _blesses the old man and helps him to rise. He turns
back and stands near the_ COURTIER _at the left._)

(_A lovely young girl enters, dressed in pale green satin, her arms
filled with a sheaf of white lilies. The very way she carries them
and bends her head to catch their fragrance shows that to her they
are the most beautiful things in the world. Kneeling she gives them
into the hands of the_ PRIEST, _and as he offers them, she listens
with childish confidence for the ringing of the bells.--Still there
is no sound save the organ music and the singing of the choir,
subdued almost to a breath as the gifts are offered. Abashed as the_
PRIEST _blesses and dismisses her, the young girl steps back and
stands near the old Sage._)

(_There is a stir in the chancel, even the_ PRIEST _turning to
watch. The_ KING _enters. He is a man of forty with tall
distinguished figure and a proud face. His purple robes, richly
jeweled, trail far behind him and on his head he wears his crown.
Everyone leans forward watching with the greatest tension. The_
KING, _exalted with his mood of selfsacrifice kneels, removes his