“But Rodrigo gave me a hint,” returned Pilarica.
“Oh, that’s different,” declared Rodrigo, almost impatiently. “Men must play fair.”
But it was some time before Don Carlos found the right answer, “Night”; and Rodrigo had almost as much trouble in guessing his.
“I’m a very tiny gentleman,
But I am seen from far.
Out walking in the evening
And lighting my cigar.”
He called out “Firefly” only just in time to escape a forfeit, but Rafael, to whom fell the puzzle:
“A plate of nuts upset at night,
But all picked up by morning light,”
quickly guessed “Stars.”
He could hardly help it, with such a shining company of them shedding their gracious looks down upon the garden.
“How many stars are there, Grandfather?” he asked.
“One thousand and seven,” replied Grandfather, “except on Holy Night, the blessed Christmas Eve, when there flashes out one more, brightest of all, the Star of Bethlehem.”