HOW EVIL DAYS CAME UPON THE CASTLE
As they left the temple behind them, on their return journey,
Everychild could not help thinking that it was a very good thing to
have found that the giant's mother was not in the temple. To his way
of looking at it, this argued that she had escaped from the terrible
creatures who surrounded the temple. And if so, why should they not
hope to find her elsewhere?
But when at length he suggested this to his companion, the giant only
replied, scarcely above a whisper, "I fear she has been slain."
And so Everychild walked by the giant's side, glancing at him anxiously
from time to time, and seeing despair written so plainly on his
countenance that he did not venture to utter another word.
When they approached the great entrance to the castle there was hurried
running to and fro on the ramparts, about the doors and windows, and in
the halls. Eager eyes looked down from the watch-tower. But soon all
eagerness changed to alarm. They could all see that the giant had been
smitten dreadfully: that the proud yet kindly head had been brought low.
Silence reigned in the great reception hall when the giant entered.
His friends all waited for him to speak, to relate the tale of his
adventure. Many eyes rested upon him curiously, yet pityingly. And
when Everychild, following the giant into the hall, placed a warning
finger on his lip, the wonder grew and deepened to consternation.
For an instant the giant stood among them, his trembling hands clasping
his head. He saw none of his friends. Then he suddenly tottered. He
would have fallen had not certain of the king's courtiers sprang to his
aid. They helped him to a chair; and there he sat with lowered eyes
like one who would never lift his head again.
The physician was sent for in haste. He came and looked down upon the
giant. He questioned him, but received no reply.
Then he looked upon those who surrounded him and touched his own
forehead significantly. "The malady is here," he said. "This is no
case for herbs and cordials."
They put the giant to bed and sent for the greatest physicians in the
kingdom, including those who were skilled in ministering to the
afflictions of the mind. There were muttered conferences and all the
pomp which even the most cunning doctors knew how to exercise. Later
there were bickerings and words of scorn and hatred among the healers.
But it seemed they could not agree upon a remedy. One suggested this,
the other urged that; but the giant remained indifferent to it
all--unconscious of it all. And his condition was not bettered in the
least. On the contrary, he sank deeper and deeper into the despondent
mood which held him.
The others discussed his strange affliction. It seemed that many of
them had known of the giant's great longing to find his mother again.
For days and days he had been quitting the castle early in the morning
and going upon far and dangerous journeys in the hope of finding her.
He had seemed quite confident of finding her. No wonder that he should
be smitten hard, now that he had been obliged to abandon his search.
At last a new, alarming report spread through the castle: the giant was
no longer remaining silent, but was addressing all who came within
hearing of him. But he was speaking only evil and false words. He was
depicting the whole world as a place of shame and cruelties. He was
painting everything black.
Everychild listened to him speaking in this strain on one occasion, and
the effect upon him was unbelievable. Everything seemed different to
him. The golden furniture in the finest room in the castle no longer
seemed to be of gold. It was merely painted yellow, he thought. Even
the Sleeping Beauty seemed changed in his eyes. Her face did not seem
so perfect, after all! There were moments when she seemed even
commonplace, not to say dreadfully old-fashioned. He fought against
this state of mind, but all in vain.
Seeing how things were going, the physicians urged that the giant's
friends be prevented from seeing him any more. They were even for
removing him to the castle dungeons and confining him. But so great
was the outcry against this extreme measure that if was not carried out.
Nevertheless, as one day after another passed, it was plain that
something must be done. The giant's voice could be heard far and near,
uttering evil words and pretending that things were quite unlike what
they really were. And all this had an effect upon all his former
companions.
Cinderella was heard to say with a fearful sigh: "I am sure the prince
of the crystal slipper will never find me. It is absurd to suppose so!"
Hansel was heard to say, "Oh, yes, I get enough to eat now: but who
knows how soon I shall be required to go without eating?"
Grettel said, "It's all very well, but no one can tell me we'll come to
any good in this place surrounded by a forest in which there may be all
kinds of monsters!"
Tom Hubbard maintained that his little black dog had never had so many
fleas since the day he was born, and that it was all the fault of the
old castle.
Little Bo-Peep and Little Boy Blue were seen to weep together and to
confide in each other the fear that they would some day have to return
to the folds to find that the wolves had become much larger and more
ferocious than they had even been before.
Even the gentle Prince Arthur became moody and remarked to Everychild
on one occasion, "There's always a good deal of visiting among kings,
and we may expect some one to see me here sooner or later and carry
word to King John. And then there will be no further liberty for me."
For the time being everybody forgot all about the Masked Lady, who sat
alone much of the time, and regarded this person or that with steadfast
eyes through her mask.
To speak quite plainly, the Masked Lady had been putting off to the
last possible moment a step from which she could not help but shrink.
The time had come for Everychild to take that dread journey to the
Mountain of Reality. She had given him as many days of grace as she
could possibly permit. And at last she said solemnly:
"It shall be to-morrow."