when they began to tell stories about Graceless, and to laugh at what they called his folly, he joined them and laughed as loudly as the rest.
And there let us leave him.
For Graceless was still walking onward, and now and then he caught glimpses of the wicket gate, standing, white and bright, at the entrance to a mountain pass. But his burden was now so heavy that his going was very slow, and at every step he groaned with weariness.
By and by he came to a crossroad, and there a stranger met him. The man smiled when he saw Graceless, and spoke to him in a very pleasant manner.
"How now, my good fellow, where are you going?" he said. "And what are you doing with that big burden on your back?"
Graceless told him that he was on his way to the wicket gate, and that he hoped when he reached it to be shown how to get rid of his burden.
"Well," said the stranger, "I have spent many years in study, and my neighbors call me Worldly Wiseman because of my wisdom. Will you listen to me if I give you some advice?"
"Certainly," said Graceless; "for I need good counsel."
