"'But what—where—where is the Valley of Vain Regret?'
"Purity shook her head and her clear eyes smiled. 'There is no Valley of Vain Regret,' she answered.
"'But I lived in it,' said the man.
"'Yes, before you knew the King, our Father. There is no vain regret for the King's child.'
"'Then I—I, too, am the King's child?' asked the man, his face amazed but radiant, for he began to understand a great many things.
"'You, too,' returned Purity, and she nestled to him and he held her close while the bird hovered above their heads and sang with clear sweetness, 'Love, love, love; true delight, true, true, true delight.'"
The story-teller ceased. Jewel saw that the tale was finished. She jumped up from the hassock and clapped her hands. Then she ran to Mr. Evringham and climbed into his lap. It was so dark now on the veranda that she could scarcely see his face. But he put his arms around her and gathered her to her customary resting place on his shoulder. "Wasn't that lovely, grandpa? Did you think your story was going to end that way?"
He stroked her flaxen hair in silence for a few seconds before replying, then he answered, rather huskily:—