Meanwhile the revel went on, with its laughter, songs and feasting. The time for the crowning came. Oberon rose and raised his sceptre in command. A glad unanimous cry rang out. Birds atune to the rapture sang. A chosen choir of a thousand nightingales expressed delight. The time of the fairy year! The crown, guarded by a score of sentinels, was reverently borne towards the King and Titania by a gnome--by Bim. He was by royal proclamation appointed, henceforth and for ever, to be its especial keeper; and so reaped the reward of his year of devotion and prowess. June rose with delight to greet him. She forgot all else of that festival then, in gladness at seeing him. For his part, in return he smiled a smile broad enough to be a generous grin--no mere plain prose words can express the fulness of his happiness. June realized at once that he was changed, improved. He was less gnome now than fairy knight. The nymph of the pool in the Violet Valley had remembered the promise made on the early morning of his departure in the wake of June. Bim had received the reward she had predicted. He was, in that proud hour and for a while thereafter, unique in Fairyland; having the distinction of being raised to a class by himself: less gnome than knight: the rewarded hero; and no one was envious because of his good fortune. The gnomes, especially, were proud of their fellow, who by earning honour for himself had thrown honour, reflected, on them. The king took the crown from Bim, and held it above the happy fairy. "June, June, June!" again and again that favourite name was raised. The nightingales, unanimous, gave the guiding note, and the triumph song--the anthem of that supreme hour--rang once again up to the stars. London in sleep heard the song and dreamed of the fairies. Oberon placed the crown on June’s head. Hand in hand with Bim, she and the comrade who had done so duteously walked slowly round the inside of the great circle of elves. It was the hour of triumph. Victory, absolute and supreme, was expressed in the music of that night. Oberon ruled everywhere! Fairyland! Fairyland! BILLING AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, GUILDFORD * * * * * * * * *Also by C. E. LAWRENCE.* *PILGRIMAGE.* *6s.* *What the Critics said:* "A work of such lofty design, written with such an unusual excellence of style, devoted so truly to the sublimer needs of men, that it must be welcomed by those who have the higher interests of the novel at heart. This form of literature is too often made to serve base ends, but here it is a vehicle for the purest emotions.... Much may be hoped from the writer of this beautiful work, deeply moving, and exquisitely sympathetic with the yearnings and sufferings of humanity."--_Globe_.