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usic and sighing； and smiles and tears； are filling the air。 Life is throbbing； hearts are breaking； passions are kindling。
Every one is now thinking of his own appearance； and comparing himself with others。 The Ace of Clubs is musing to himself； that the King of Spades may be just passably good…looking。 〃But；〃 says he； 〃when I walk down the street you have only to see how people's eyes turn towards me。〃 The King of Spades is saying； 〃Why on earth is that Ace of Clubs always straining his neck and strutting about like a peacock？ He imagines all the Queens are dying of love for him； while the real fact is 〃Here he pauses； and examines his face in the glass。
But the Queens were the worst of all。 They began to spend all their time in dressing themselves up to the Nines。 And the Nines would become their hopeless and abject slaves。 But their cutting remarks about one another were more shocking still。
So the young men would sit listless on the leaves under the trees； lolling with outstretched limbs in the forest shade。 And the young maidens； dressed in pale…blue robes； would come walking accidentally to the same shade of the same forest by the same trees； and turn their eyes as though they saw no one there； and look as though they came out to see nothing at all。 And then one young man more forward than the rest in a fit of madness would dare to go near to a maiden in blue。 But； as he drew near； speech would forsake him。 He would stand there tongue…tied and foolish； and the favourable moment would pass。
The Kokil birds were singing in the boughs overhead。 The mischievous South wind was blowing； it disarrayed the hair； it whispered in the ear； and stirred the music in the blood。 The leaves of the trees were murmuring with rustling delight。 And the ceaseless sound of the ocean made all the mute longings of the heart of man and maid surge backwards and forwards on the full springtide of love。
The Three Companions had brought into the dried…up channels of the Kingdom of Cards the full flood…tide of a new life。
VII
And； though the tide was full； there …was a pause as though the rising waters would not break into foam but remain suspended for ever。 There were no outspoken words； only a cautious going forward one step and receding two。 All seemed busy heaping up their unfulfilled desires like castles in the air； or fortresses of sand。 They were pale and speechless； their eyes were burning； their lips trembling with unspoken secrets。
The Prince saw what was wrong。 He summoned every one on the Island and said： 〃Bring hither the flutes and the cymbals； the pipes and drums。 Let all be played together； and raise loud shouts of rejoicing。 For the Queen of Hearts this very night is going to choose her Mate ！〃
So the Tens and Nines began to blow on their flutes and pipes； the Eights and Sevens played on their sackbuts and viols； and even the Twos and Threes began to beat madly on their drums。
When this tumultous gust of music came； it swept away at one blast all those sighings and mopings。 And then what a torrent of laughter and words poured forth！ There were daring proposals and locking refusals； and gossip and chatter； and jests and merriment。 It was like the swaying and shaking； and rustling and soughing； in a summer gale； of a million leaves and branches in the depth of the primeval forest。
But the Queen of Hearts； in a rose…red robe； sat silent in the shadow of her secret bower； and listened to the great uproarious sound of music and mirth； that came floating towards her。 She shut her eyes； and dreamt her dream of lore。 And when she opened them she found the Prince seated on the ground before her gazing up at her face。 And she covered her eyes with both hands； and shrank back quivering with an inward tumult of joy。
And the Prince passed the whole day alone； walking by the side of the surging sea。 He carried in his mind that startled look； that shrinking gesture of the Queen； and his heart beat high with hope。
That night the serried； gaily…dressed ranks of young men and maidens waited with smiling faces at the Palace Gates。 The Palace Hall was lighted with fairy lamps and festooned with the flowers of spring。 Slowly the Queen of Hearts entered； and the whole assembly rose to greet her。 With a jasmine garland in her hand； she stood before the Prince with downcast eyes。 In her lowly bashfulness she could hardly raise the garland to the neck of the Mate she had chosen。 But the Prince bowed his head； and the garland slipped to its place。 The assembly of youths and maidens had waited her choice with eager； expectant hush。 And when the choice was made； the whole vast concourse rocked and swayed with a tumult of wild delight。 And the sound of their shouts was heard in every part of the island； and by ships far out at sea。 Never had such a shout been raised in the Kingdom of Cards before。
And they carried the Prince and his Bride； and seated them on the throne； and crowned them then and there in the Ancient Island of Cards。
And the sorrowing Mother Queen； on the 'far…off island shore on the other side of the sea； came sailing to her son's new kingdom in a ship adorned with gold。
And the citizens are no longer regulated according to the Rules； but are good or bad； or both； according to their Ichcha。
THE DEVOTEE
At a time； when my unpopularity with a part of my readers had reached the nadir of its glory； and my name had become the central orb of the journals； to be attended through space with a perpetual rotation of revilement； I felt the necessity to retire to some quiet place and endeavour to forget my own existence。
I have a house in the country some miles away from Calcutta； where I can remain unknown and unmolested。 The villagers there have not； as yet； come to any conclusion about me。 They know I am no mere holiday…maker or pleasure…seeker； for I never outrage the silence of the village nights with the riotous noises of the city。 Nor do they regard me as ascetic； because the little acquaintance they have of me carries the savour of comfort about it。 I am not； to them； a traveller； for； though I am a vagabond by nature； my wandering through the village fields is aimless。 They are hardly even quite certain whether I am married or single； for they have never seen me with my children。 So； not being able to classify me in any animal or vegetable kingdom that they know； they have long since given me up and left me stolidly alone。
But quite lately I have come to know that there is one person in the village who is deeply interested in me。 Our acquaintance began on a sultry afternoon in July。 There had been rain all the morning； and the air was still wet and heavy with mist； like eyelids when weeping is over。
I sat lazily watching a dappled cow grazing on the high bank of the river。 The afternoon sun was playing on her glossy hide。 The simple beauty of this dress of light made me wonder idly at man's deliberate waste of money in setting up tailors' shops to deprive his own skin of its natural clothing。
While I was thus watching and lazily musing； a woman of middle age came and prostrated herself before me； touching the ground with her forehead。 She carried in her robe some bunches of flowers； one of which she offered to me with folded hands。 She said to me； as she offered it： 〃This is an offering to my God。〃
She went away。 I was so taken aback as she uttered these words； that I could hardly catch a glimpse of her before she was gone。 The whole incident was entirely simple； but it left a deep impression on my mind； and as I turned back once more to look at the cattle in the field； the zest of life in the cow； who was munching the lush grass with deep breaths； while she whisked off the flies； appeared to me fraught with mystery。 My readers may laugh at my foolishness； but my heart was full of adoration。 I offered my worship to the pure joy of living； which is God's own life。 Then； plucking a tender shoot from the mango tree； I fed the cow with it from my own hand； and as I did this I had the satisfaction of having pleased my God。
The next year when I returned to the village it was February。 The cold season still lingered on。 The morning sun