"But the Emperor, passing through the forest, wondered why the little brown house of the wood-cutter shone with such a wonderful glow, and when he found that there was a beautiful moon-child there, he went to see her.
"By day or by night it was just the same with the house; it always shone with the glory of the Princess Splendor.
"Of course the Emperor wished to marry her; but he had been too late in finding her, because she was to return to her home in the moon at the end of twenty years, and the end of the twenty years had come.
"She begged to stay with the Emperor and began to weep, but it was of no use. The moon-mother took her home and tried to comfort her; but her tears went on falling, and they take wings to themselves as fast as they fall. These fireflies are the golden tears of the lovely Princess Splendor."
It was quite dark when the story was finished, and Tei jumped up. "I must go home and show the intelligent insect to my honorable mother," she said.
"Tara and I will walk across the gardens with you," said Umé.
She reached under the veranda for three slender bamboo poles, while Tara ran for candles to put in the paper lanterns which hung on the end of the poles.
Soon the three lanterns went bobbing down the garden path through the dusk, and the sound of happy voices floated back to the mother.
"It was of no use!" said Umé's voice.
"What was of no use?" asked Tara.