“While they ate, a pair of great eagles circled slowly downward out of the blue sky, nor paused until they had alighted near the travelers.

“‘Welcome, dear birds,’ said Purity.  ’You know well the Heavenly Country, and we seek your help to get there, for we have no wings to fly above those rocky steeps.’

“The eagles nestled their heads within her little hands, in token of obedience, and when she took her seat upon one, the man obeyed her sign and trusted himself upon the outstretched wings of the other.

“Up, up, soared the great birds, over the sullen pool, up the sheer rock.  Up, and still up, with sure and steady flight, until, circling once again, the eagles alighted gently upon a land strewn with flowers.

“The man and his guide stood upon the green earth, and Purity kissed her hands gratefully to the eagles as they circled away and out of sight.

“‘This is a beautiful country,’ said the man, and he gathered a white flower.

“‘Yes,’ returned Purity, smiling on him, ‘you begin to see it now.’”

* * * * *

Mrs. Evringham paused.  Jewel’s eyes were fixed on her unwinkingly.  “Go on, please, mother,” she said.

“I think I’ve told enough,” replied Mrs. Evringham.

“Oh, but you finish it, mother.  You can tell it just beautifully.”

“Thank you, dear, but I think it is your turn.”

“Yes, Jewel,” said her father, “it’s up to you now.”

“But I don’t think a little girl can tell stories to grown-up people.”

“Oh, yes, on her birthday she can,” returned her father.  “Go on, we’re all listening; no one asleep except Topaz.”

Jewel’s grandfather had been watching her absorbed face all the time, between his half-closed lids.  “I think they’ve left the hardest part of all to you, Jewel,” he said,—­“to tell about the dragon.”

“Oh, no-o,” returned the child scornfully, “that part’s easy.”

The broker raised his eyebrows.  “Indeed?” he returned.

In honor of her birthday, Jewel was arrayed in her silk dress.  The white ribbons, Anna Belle’s gift, were billowing out behind her ears.  She presented the appearance, as she sat on the wicker hassock, of a person who had had little experience with dragons.

“Well,” she said, after a pause, smiling at her grandfather and lifting her shoulders, “shall I try, then?”

“By all means,” returned the broker.

So Jewel folded her hands in her silken lap and began in her light, sweet voice:—­

* * * * *

“When the man looked around on the flowers and lovely trees and brooks, he said, ‘This is a beautiful land.’

“And Purity answered:  ’I’m glad that you see it is.  You remember I told you it was.’

“‘It was the Valley of Vain Regret we were talking about then,’ said the man.  ’If you had known more about it, you wouldn’t have called that beautiful.’