Tiki-pu pulled off his cap and threw himself down on the floor with reverent
grovellings. When he dared to look up again Wio-wani stood over him big and
fine; just within the edge of his canvas he stood and reached out a hand.

"Come along with me, Tiki-pu!" said the great one. "If you want to know how to
paint I will teach you."

"Oh, Wio-wani, were you there all the while?" cried Tiki-pu ecstatically,
leaping up and clutching with his smeary little puds the hand which the old
man extended to him.

"I was there," said Wio-wani, "looking at you out of my little window. Come
along in!"

Tiki-pu took a heave and swung himself into the picture, and fairy capered
when he found his feet among the flowers of Wio-wani's beautiful garden.
Wio-wani had turned, and was ambling gently back to the door of his palace,
beckoning to the small one to follow him; and there stood Tiki-pu, opening his
mouth like a fish to all the wonders that surrounded him. "Celestiality, may I
speak?" he said suddenly.

"Speak," replied Wio-wani; "what is it?"

"The Emperor, was he not the very flower of fools not to follow when you told
him?"

"I cannot say," answered Wio-wani, "but he certainly was no artist."

Then he opened the door, that door which he had so beautifully painted, and