"The same as a King," she whispered, and drew from her bosom the opal, as lovely and as variable as the human spirit. "With the other three stones you may, if you will, buy back your father's kingdom. But this, which contains all qualities in one, let us keep for ever, for our children and theirs, that they may know there is nothing a King and a Queen may not do in a Barn, or a man and a woman anywhere. But the best thing they can do is to work in it." Then, going out, she came back with the bag which she had slung on Pepper's back, and took from it her father's tools. "In three weeks you learned all I learned in three years," said she. "When I shod Pepper this morning I did my last job as a smith; for now I shall have other work to do. But you, whether you choose to get your father's lands again or no, I pray to work in the trade I have given you, for I have made you the very king of smiths, and all men should do the thing they can do best. So take the hammer and nail up the horseshoes over the door while I get supper; for you look as hungry as I feel." "But there's nothing to eat," said the King ruefully. However, he went outside, and over the door he hung as many shoes as there are nails in one--the four Pepper had cast on the road, and the three he had first made for her. As he drove the last nail home Viola called: "Supper is ready." And the King went into the Barn and saw a Wedding Cake. And now, if you please, Mistress Joan, I have earned my apple. FIRST INTERLUDE Now there was a great munching of apples in the tree, for to tell the truth during the latter part of the story this business had been suspended, and between bites the milkmaids discussed the merits of what they had just heard. Jessica: What is your opinion of this tale, Jane? Jane: It surprised me more than anything. For who could have suspected that the Lad was a Woman? Martin: Lads are to be suspected of any mischief, Mistress Jane. Joscelyn: It is not to be supposed, Master Pippin, that we are acquainted with the habits of lads. Martin: I suppose nothing. But did the story please you? Joscelyn: As a story it was well enough to pass an hour. I would be willing to learn whether the King regained his kingdom or no. Martin: I think he did, since you may go to this day to the little city on the banks of the Adur which is re-named after his Barn. But I doubt whether he lived there, or anywhere but in the Barn where he and his beloved began their life of work and prayer and mirth and loving-rule. And died as happily as they had lived. Joan: I am glad they lived happily. I was afraid the tale would end unhappily. Joyce: And so was I. For when the King roamed the hills for a whole week without success, I began to fear he would never find the Woman again. Jennifer: I for my part feared lest he should not open his lips during the fourth vigil, and so must become a Dove for the remainder of his days.