The Foundling Read Online Free Page A

it, thrown it down the well, pounded it with a hammer—it keeps coming back to me!”
    â€œThat’s because you really didn’t want to give it up,” Doli said. “In the back of your mind and the bottom of your heart, you didn’t want to change along with the rest of the world. So long as you feel that way, the stone is yours.”
    â€œNo, no!” cried Maibon. “I want no more of it. Whatever may happen, let it happen. That’s better than nothing happening at all. I’ve had my share of being young, I’ll take my share of being old. And when I come to the end of my days, at least I can say I’ve lived each one of them.”
    â€œIf you mean that,” answered Doli, “toss the stone onto the ground, right there at the stump. Then get home and be about your business.”
    Maibon flung down the stone, spun around, and set off as fast as he could. When he dared at last to glance back over his shoulder, fearful the stone might be bouncing along at his heels, he saw no sign of it, nor of the redheaded dwarf.
    Maibon gave a joyful cry, for at that same instant the fallow field was covered with green blades of wheat, the branches of the apple tree bent to the ground, so laden they were with fruit. He ran to the
cottage, threw his arms around his wife and children, and told them the good news. The hen hatched her chicks, the cow bore her calf. And Maibon laughed with glee when he saw the first tooth in the baby’s mouth.
    Never again did Maibon meet any of the Fair Folk, and he was just as glad of it. He and his wife and children and grandchildren lived many years, and Maibon was proud of his white hair and long beard as he had been of his sturdy arms and legs.
    â€œStones are all right, in their way,” said Maibon. “But the trouble with them is, they don’t grow.”

T HE T RUE E NCHANTER
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    W hen Princess Angharad of the Royal House of Llyr came of an age to be married, her mother, Queen Regat, sent throughout the kingdom to find suitors for her daughter’s hand. With red-gold hair and sea-green eyes, Angharad was the most beautiful of all the princesses of Llyr; and there were many who would have courted her. However, because Angharad was an enchantress of long and lofty lineage, it was forbidden her to wed any but an enchanter.
    â€œThat,” said Angharad, “is the most ridiculous rule I’ve ever heard of. It’s vexing enough, having to curtsy here, curtsy there, smile when you’d rather frown, frown when you’d rather laugh, and look interested when you’re actually bored to tears. And now, is my husband to be chosen for me?”
    â€œRules are to be obeyed, not questioned,” answered Queen Regat. “You may wed the one your heart desires, and choose your husband freely—among those, naturally, with suitable qualifications.”
    â€œIt seems to me,” said Angharad, “one of the qualifications should be that we love each other.”
    â€œDesirable,” said Queen Regat, “but in matters of state, not always practical.”
    And so Queen Regat commanded that only enchanters of the highest skill should present themselves in turn at the Great Hall of the Castle of Llyr.

    First came the enchanter Gildas. He was paunchy, with fleshy cheeks shining as if buttered. His garments were embroidered with gold thread and crusted with jewels. The host of servants following in his train were garbed almost as splendidly as their master; and, at the sight, murmurs of admiration rose from all the courtiers. Nose in the air, looking neither right nor left, Gildas bustled through the Great Hall to stand before the thrones of Angharad and her mother, and curtly nodded his balding head.
    â€œNoblest ladies,” Gildas began, “allow me to dispense with the formalities. You appreciate the demands upon my time. Only with greatest difficulty have I been able to spare a few