TO

MARY and AUBREY

NOTE

One of these stories, "The Glass Mender," appeared first in The English Review, and six of the shorter stories in The Morning Post. I wish to thank the editors and proprietors concerned for their kindness in letting me republish them. The rest of the stories are new.

M. B.

CONTENTS

PAGE
THE GLASS MENDER[1]
THE BLUE ROSE[31]
THE STORY OF VOX ANGELICA AND LIEBLICH GEDACHT[45]
THE VAGABOND[97]
THE MINSTREL[137]
THE HUNCHBACK, THE POOL, AND THE MAGIC RING[151]
THE SILVER MOUNTAIN[165]
THE RING[179]
THE MERCHANT'S DAUGHTER[193]
THE CUNNING APPRENTICE[219]
ORESTES AND THE DRAGON[233]
THE WISE PRINCESS[247]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

And as he galloped through the wood, the hoofs of his steed left behind them a trail of twinkling anemones [Frontispiece]
One evening he was playing his one-stringed instrument outside a dark wall To face p.[41]
As he said this he climbed on to the manuals and disappeared into the heart of the organ " [95]
And there stood before the throng a wonderful shining figure with wings " [133]
And turning round she saw an old woman, bent and worn, who was muttering a supplication " [139]
The sun was shining on the sea and a fresh breeze was blowing " [160]
And towards the evening he emerged from the forest and saw the hill before him shining in the sunset " [176]
Her mother, when she was walking in the garden of the palace, found a silver horseshoe lying on one of the paths " [181]
A garment on which the month of May, and all its flowers, was painted " [210]
He changed himself into a hawk " [223]
The dragon appeared, and seizing the little Princess with its tail, flew away " [235]
She went out on to the step and called out in a loud voice, "Oh, you boisterous winds, bring hither that same carpet on which I used to sit in the house of my father" " [252]