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II. The Three Travellers
THEY were three travellers sitting in the smoking-room of a country inn, who had come together as strangers and grown companionable over their pipes and wine. Two of them were young, the third was grey-haired and wrinkle-faced. They were discussing women’s love.
The youngest argued lightly, because he delighted in debate.
The second bitterly, because he had been jilted and fancied himself still in love.
The grey third without emotion, because he had known sorrow.
"For fairy gifts to win the heart of my fair lady," said the youngest, "were we in the magic days of old, I would ask nothing save a light heart and a handsome face with few harsh years stamped upon it."
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