close.]

So they quarreled among themselves, for they were beasts and knew no
better; and as they snarled and growled and howled, the maiden walked in
among them; and when the light which made her lovely fell upon them,
they ran and hid themselves in the depths of the forest, and the
child passed on in safety.

The rabbit still slept peacefully on her breast. At last she, too, grew
weary, and lay down to sleep on the leaves and moss; and the birds of
the forest watched her and sang to her, and nothing harmed her all the
night.

In the morning a party of horsemen rode through the forest, looking
behind each bush and tree as if they sought something very precious.

The forest glowed with splendor then, for the sun had come in all its
glory to scatter darkness and wake up the world. The darkest dells and
caves and lonely paths lost their horror in the morning light, and there
were violets blooming in the shadows of the pines.

The leaves glistened, the flowers lifted their heads, and everything was
glad but the horsemen, whose faces were full of gloom because their
hearts were sad.

They did not speak or smile as they rode on their search; and their
leader was the saddest of them all, though he wore a golden crown that
sparkled with many jewels.

They followed each winding path through the forest, till at last they