"I hight Sir Mordred the Child, and I teach
Lessons of selfishest evil, and reach
Out into darkness. Thoughtless, unkind,
And ruthless is Mordred, and unrefined."

The Child Mordred was properly rebuked and denied the accolade, though,
like the others, he seemed to have assumed the title already. He made
a plotter's exit. Whereupon Maurice Levy rose, bowed, announced that he
highted the Child Sir Galahad, and continued with perfect sang-froid:

"I am the purest of the pure.
I have but kindest thoughts each day.
I give my riches to the poor,
And follow in the Master's way."

This elicited tokens of approval from the Child King Arthur, and he bade
Maurice "stand forth" and come near the throne, a command obeyed with
the easy grace of conscious merit.

It was Penrod's turn. He stepped back from his chair, the table between
him and the audience, and began in a high, breathless monotone:

"I hight Sir Lancelot du Lake, the Child,
Gentul-hearted, meek, and mild.
What though I'm BUT a littul child,
Gentul-heartud, meek, and mild,
I do my share though but--though but----"

Penrod paused and gulped. The voice of Mrs. Lora Rewbush was heard from
the wings, prompting irritably, and the Child. Sir Lancelot repeated: