These, my son, are the words of one who hath lived long enough to gain the wisdom that teacheth how to sift the wheat from the chaff." Dranoa paused, and remained silent awhile. Then he resumed, with a change of tone, "But I wish not to weigh down thy young imaginings with the sober knowledge that belongeth not to thine years but to mine. It will be sufficient to give thee counsel that is more suited to the circumstances. Therefore I say this to thee: thou hast a good heart and good instincts--trust them, follow them honestly; and leave the rest to the Great Spirit that ruleth over all. And now I have but one more thing to say; it were better for the present that this that is between us were not known openly. Personally, that will not concern thee. When the time hath come, I will myself announce it to my people. Meanwhile, thy mind will be at rest with the knowledge of my approval of thy suit." Leonard gratefully poured out his thanks to the kind-hearted king; then went to seek Ulama. He found her sitting alone in an apartment that overlooked the lake, so deep in thought that she did not hear his coming. She was leaning on the window-sill gazing pensively upon the beauties of the scene that lay outspread before her. But Leonard thought, as he caught sight of her and stayed his steps upon the threshold, that she herself was the fairest creation of all, posed as she was with that unconscious grace and charm that seemed with her to be innate. For a full minute he stood in silence; then, still without moving towards her, he softly called her name, as though fearing to approach her till he had permission. She turned her head towards him with no surprise, but with a look of sweetest pleasure in her gentle eyes. "I did not hear you," she said dreamily, "and yet--I know not why--I was looking for your coming." "And what were you thinking of so profoundly, sweet Ulama?" "I was thinking," she replied, "how much more beautiful our lake and its surroundings have seemed to me of late. I scarce noticed them before; I suppose because I have known them all my life. Yet, now that you have pointed out some of their beauties, I not only feel and appreciate them, but I note many others on all sides that I never saw before. It is very strange! I wonder why it is?" "It is _love_, Ulama," Leonard said, coming quietly to her side and laying his hand lightly on her shoulder. "Love can make the plainest works of nature beautiful; small wonder then if it makes those that are really so display new and unsuspected charms. It is because love has taken up his dwelling in your heart that you now see new beauties in these familiar scenes." But Ulama shook her head sagely, and smilingly made answer, "You know you told me that the first time you saw our lake you deemed it the fairest spot on all the earth. And you did not know me then, so could not love me. How then can what you say explain it?" Leonard laughed and took her hand in his.