despite the chill to their toes; and they soon came to the forest
which all three knew very well indeed. It was a beautiful forest
like a great cathedral, with long aisles cut between the splendid
upstanding pine trees. The green-fringed boughs were heavy with
snow, the straight strong stems caught and reflected the stray sun
rays, and looking up through the arches and delicate tracery and
interlaced branches the eye caught the wonderful blue of the great
domed roof overhead. The cats walked delicately, fearful of
temptation in the way of rabbits or frost-tamed birds, and the
Child lilted a quaint German hymn to a strange old tune:-


"Ein Kind gebor'n zu Bethlehem.
Alleluja!
Dess freuet sich Jerusalem,
Alleluja! Alleluja!"


The Recluse was sitting on a bench outside his cave. He was
dressed in a brown robe, his eyes were like stars wrapped in brown
velvet, his face was strong and gentle, his hair white although he
looked quite young. He greeted the Child very kindly and stroked
the cats.

"You have come to ask me a question, Child?"

"If you please," said the Child, "what is a symbol?"

"Ah," said the Recluse, "I might have known you would ask me that."