"That would depend upon the nature of the woman. If she continues to unwind the silk she will certainly find a piece of adamant, which has been cunningly covered with this rare, soft substance. If she tries to rewind, she will discover the thread has become tangled, and the ball can never again look smooth and even as before. She must choose which she would prefer, a clean piece of adamant or an uneven ball of silk." "But that is no answer to my question," said the Damsel, pouting. "I asked which must she do for the best." "Neither is better nor worse!" replied the Sage with asperity. "And there is no best." "You are quite wrong, Sage," returned the Damsel. "There is a third course. She can cut the thread and leave the ball as it is, a coating of smooth silk still--and an undiscovered possibility inside." "You are too much for me!" exclaimed the Sage in a fury. "Answer your own questions, to begin with, in future! I will have no more of you!" and he went into his cave and ostentatiously fastened the door. The Damsel smiled to herself and continued to draw geometrical figures with the point of the Sage's staff in the sand. * * * * * _There are always three courses in life: the good, the bad, and the--indifferent. The good gives you calm, and makes you sleep; the bad gives you emotions, and makes you weep; and the indifferent gives you no satisfaction, and makes you yawn, so--choose wisely._ * * * * * One can swear to be faithful eternally, but how can one swear to love eternally? The one is a question of will, the other a sentiment beyond all human control. One might as sensibly swear to keep the wind in the south, or the sun from setting! * * * * * And yet we swear both vows--and break both vows. * * * * * A woman is always hardest upon her own sins, committed by others. A man is sometimes lenient to them. A fool can win the love of a man, but it requires a woman of resources to keep it. * * * * * The Damsel did not go away from the cave, as was her custom. She continued to draw geometrical figures in the sand. Presently she called to the Sage once more. "Come out again, dear Sage! Listen, I have something more to say." He unfastened the window and stood leaning on the sill. "Well?" he said, sternly. "Well?" "A Ring Dove once was owned by a man. It was the sweetest and most gentle of birds, besides being extremely beautiful. It adored the man and lived contentedly in its cage. The perches, which the man had had prepared especially for it, were endeared to it from association with the happy hours when it had been caressed by the man. Altogether to it the cage appeared a palace, and it lived content.