ears instead of two. So he became knowing and clever because of the information he acquired in this way. The grafted ear grew and flourished, and, in spite of its remaining abnormal, it obtained a certain enjoyment out of existence."

   "But who

    really

   benefited by all this?" inquired the Damsel.

   "No one," said the Sage; "the first man went about with only one ear; the second man made himself remarkable with three—and the cut-off ear, although alive and successful, felt itself an excrescence."

   "Then what

    could

   be the pleasure of it all?" demanded the Damsel.

   "Out upon

    you

   !" exclaimed the Sage, in a passion. "You asked me what was life—and why the fruit tasted bitter in the mouth? I have answered you."

   And he went back into his cave and barred the door.

   The Damsel sat down upon a stone outside.

   "It seems to me that men are fools," she said, and she clapped her hands to her two ears. "When I am angry and offended with one of you, I will cut the ear from off the head of some one else."

   And she picked up an apple and ate it. And it tasted sweet.

   A man will often fling away a woman who has wronged him although in doing so he is deeply hurting himself. A woman will forgive a man who has wronged her because her own personal pleasure in him is greater than her outraged pride. Hence women are more unconscious philosophers than men.

   The Damsel returned again to the cave of the Sage. There were other questions she wished to ask about life. The door was hard to push ajar, but at last she obtained entrance.

   "What do you want now?" he demanded, with a voice of grumbling. "Were you not content with my last utterances?"

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