The story revolves around the theme of deception and honesty in relationships. The narrator expresses their desire for truthfulness from their loved one, Daphnis, and warns that lies will lead to grief. They declare their ability to forgive many transgressions, but not deception. The narrator demands honesty, even if it means being hurt or abandoned, rather than being deceived by false promises.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1897 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure