"Why do you sing?" she asked. "I sing because I am so happy," answered the lark. "And why are you so happy?" asked the Princess. "So happy?" said the lark. "God is so good. The sky is so blue, and the fields are so green. Is that not enough to make me happy?" "Teach me, then, that I may be happy too," said Princess Fernanda. "I cannot," said the lark; "I don't know how to teach;" and then he rose, singing, into the blue overhead, and Princess Fernanda sighed and turned back towards the palace. Outside her door she met her little lap-dog, who barked and jumped for joy on seeing her. "Little dog," she said; "poor little dog, are you so glad to see me? Why are you so happy?" "Why am I so happy?" said the little dog, surprised. "I have plenty to eat, and a soft cushion to rest upon, and you to caress me. Is not it enough to make me happy?" "It is not enough for me," said the Princess, sighing; but the little dog only wagged his tail and licked her hand. Inside her room was the Princess's favourite little maid Doris, folding up her dresses. "Doris," she said, "you look very merry. Why are you so happy?" "Please your Royal Highness, I am going to the fair," answered Doris, "and Luke is to meet me there; only," she added, pouting a little, "I wish I had a pretty new hat to wear with my new dress." "Then you are not perfectly happy, so you cannot teach me," said Princess Fernanda, and then she sighed again. In the evening at sunset she arose, and went out into the village, and at the door of the first cottage to which she came, sat a woman nursing a baby, and hushing it to sleep. The baby was fat and rosy, and the mother looked down at it proudly. The Princess stopped, and spoke to her. "You have a fine little child there," she said. "Surely you must be very happy." The woman smiled. "Yes," she said, "so I am; only just now my goodman is out fishing, and as he's rather late, it makes me anxious." "Then you could not teach me," said the Princess, sighing to herself as she moved away. She wandered on till she came to a church, which she entered. All was still within, for the church was empty; but before the altar, on a splendid bier, lay the body of a young man, who had been killed in the war. He was dressed in his gay uniform, and his breast was covered with medals, and his sword lay beside him. He was shot through the heart, but his face was peaceful and his lips were smiling. The Princess walked to his side, and looked at the quiet face. Then she stooped and kissed the cold forehead, and envied the soldier. "If he could speak," she said, "he surely could teach me. No living mouth could ever smile like that." Then she looked up and saw a white angel standing on the other side of the bier, and she knew it was Death. "You have taught him," she said, holding out her arms. "Will you not teach me to smile like that?"