When they entered into the arbor, and sate together upon the Siege of Restfulness, it was Master Sweetheart’s wont to tell them of the land of Ever-Plaisance, for it was a conceit of his that he journeyed each day nearer and nearer to that land, and that his journey thitherward was nearly done.  How came he to know of that land I cannot say, for I do not know; but I am fain to believe that, as he said, the exceeding fair angels told him thereof when by night, as he lay sleeping, they came singing and with caresses to his bedside.

I speak now of a holy thing, therefore I speak truth when I say that while little children lie sleeping in their beds at night it pleaseth God to send His exceeding fair angels with singing and caresses to bear messages of His love unto those little sleeping children.  And I have seen those exceeding fair angels bend with folded wings over the little cradles and the little beds, and kiss those little sleeping children and whisper God’s messages of love to them, and I knew that those messages were full of sweet tidings; for, even though they slept, the little children smiled.  This have I seen, and there is none who loveth little children that will deny the truth of this thing which I have now solemnly declared.

[Illustration:  The strange allegory of the lame boy’s speech filled her with awe.]

Of that land of Ever-Plaisance was our little Mistress Merciless ever fain to hear tell.  But when she beset the rest of us to speak thereof we knew not what to say other than to confirm such reports as Master Sweetheart had already made.  For when it cometh to knowing of that far-off land,—­ah me, who knoweth more than the veriest little child?  And oftentimes within the bosom of a little, helpless, fading one there bloometh a wisdom which sages cannot comprehend.  So when she asked us we were wont to bid her go to Master Sweetheart, for he knew the truth and spake it.

It is now to tell of an adventure which on a time befell in that full fair garden of which you have heard me speak.  In this garden lived many birds of surpassing beauty and most rapturous song, and among them was one that they called Joyous, for that he did ever carol forth so joyously, it mattered not what the day soever might be.  This bird Joyous had his home in the top of an exceeding high tree, hard by the pleasant arbor, and here did he use to sit at such times as the little people came into that arbor, and then would he sing to them such songs as befitted that quiet spot, and them that came thereto.  But there was a full evil cat that dwelt near by, and this cruel beast found no pleasure in the music that Joyous did make continually; nay, that music filled this full evil cat with a wicked thirst for the blood of that singing innocent, and she had no peace for the malice that was within her seeking to devise a means whereby she might comprehend the bird Joyous to her murderous intent.  Now you must know that it was the wont of our little Mistress Merciless