"The man was a brutal creature, more or less, and at last he cruelly ill-treated the Ring Dove, and exalted a Cuckoo in its place. This conduct greatly saddened the sweet Dove, but it over and over again forgave its tormentor, so great was its love, and even saw the Cuckoo advanced to the highest honors without anger, only a bleeding heart. How long things would have continued in this way no one knows; but the man suddenly gave the Cuckoo the Ring Dove's cage, and let the Cuckoo sleep on the perches which the Dove was accustomed to consider its very own. This overcame the gentle Dove. Its broken heart mended, and it flew away. Tell me, Sage, why did this action cure the Dove of its great love for the man, when it had borne all the blows and cruelty without resentment?" "That is an easy question to answer," replied the Sage. "The Dove was really growing tired and seized this as a good opportunity to be off." "Oh, how little you know of the female sex, even of Doves!" laughed the Damsel. "I can give you the true reason myself. It was the bad taste of the man in giving the Cuckoo the cage and perches of the Ring Dove, which he had consecrated to her. That cured her, and enabled her to fly away." And the Damsel curtsied to the Sage and sauntered off, laughing and looking back over her shoulder. * * * * * _An action committed in bad taste is more curing and disillusionizing to Love than the cruelest blows of rage and hate._ * * * * * A man would often be the lover of his wife--if he were married to some one else. * * * * * There come moments in life when we regret the old gods. * * * * * Time and place--temperature and temperament--and after the sunset the night--and then to-morrow. * * * * * All the winter passed and the Damsel remained at the Court and the Sage in his cave. Both found the days long and their occupation insufficient. At last, when spring came, the Damsel again mounted the hill one morning before dawn and tapped at the Sage's door. His heart gave a bound, and he flew to open it without more ado. "So you have come back?" he said; and his voice was eager, though it was a gray light and he could not see her plainly. "Yes," said she; "I want you to tell me one more story of life before I go on a long voyage." So the Sage began: