TWILIGHT LAND

the palace instantly began to grow for all the world like
a soap-bubble, until it stood in the moonlight gleaming
and glistening like snow, the windows bright with the
lights of a thousand wax tapers, and the sound of music
and voices and laughter coming from within.

Hardly could the fisherman catch his breath from one
strange thing when another happened. The old magician
took off his clothes and his face—yes, his face—for all
the world as though it had been a mask, and there stood
as handsome and noble a young man as ever the light
looked on. Then, beckoning to the fisherman, dumb with
wonder, he led the way up the great flight of marble steps
to the palace door. As he came the door swung open
with a blaze of light, and there stood hundreds of noble-
men, all clad in silks and satins and velvets, who, when
they saw the magician, bowed low before him, as though
he had been a king. Leading the way, they brought the
two through halls and chambers and room after room,
each more magnificent than the other, until they came to
one that surpassed a hundredfold any of the others.

At the farther end was a golden throne, and upon it sat
a lady more lovely and beautiful than a dream, her eyes
as bright as diamonds, her cheeks like rose-leaves, and
her hair like spun gold. She came half-way down the
steps of the throne to welcome the magician, and when
the two met they kissed one another before all those who
were looking on. Then she brought him to the throne
and seated him beside her, and there they talked fora
long time very earnestly.

Nobody said a word to the fisherman, who stood
staring about him like an owl. ‘1 wonder,” said he to
himself at last, “if they will give a body a bite to eat

334