A Crystal Age

e and looked upon the river, which was not more than a couple of hundred yards from the terrace or platform on which it stood. The ground here sloped rapidly t

bank, while on the water numbers of wild duck and other water-fowl were disporti

There was a lively hum of conversation, which ceased on my entrance; then those who were s

t, he finally addressed me with solemnity. "Smith," he said-and I did not like it-"the meeting with you today was to me and to all of us a very strange experience: I little th

added: "I'm sure, sir, I appreciate

with his eyes fixed on me. Then with a sigh, and looking round him, he said in a dissatisfied tone: "My c

table, where I was pleased to have a plac

perately hungry. It was therefore a disappointment when nothing more substantial than a plate of whitey-green, crisp-looking stuff resembling endive, was placed before me by one of the picturesque handmaidens. It was cold and somewhat bitter to the taste, but hunger compelled me to eat it even to the last green leaf; then, when I began to wond

notwithstanding the melancholy event which had occupied them during the day. It was, in fact, a kind of supper, and the one great mea

as remarkably like my old friend the robin, only the bosom was more vivid, running almost into orange, and the wings and tail were tipped with the same hue, giving it quite a distinguished appearance. Another small olive-green bird, which I at first took for a green linnet, was even prettier, the throat and bosom being of a most delicate buff, crossed with a belt of velvet black. The bird that really seemed most like a common sparrow was chestnut, with a white throat and mouse-colored wing

rprising readiness, showing that she too had noti

experience to walk about the world frightening men, cattle, and birds; yet I suppose it is entirely due to the clothes I am wearing-and the boots. I

my words. "We understood what you said so well on this occasion that it seems a pity you should suddenly again

selves, to see the last of these uncouth garments." I could no

his head and

ng to see myself arrayed in their rich, mysterious dress. "This being so," I continued, "may I ask you if it is in your power to provide me

he general suspense and the somewhat alarmed expression of the old gentleman's countenance; nevertheless, my motives had been good: I had expressed my wish in that way fo

length ventured to remark that I feare

ed gravely. "Or, rather

meaning?" said I,

k, let me put this plain question to you: Do you ask us to provide

re all taking me for a beggar. "My wish is to obtain them somehow from somebod

n the house, actually offering to purchase clothing-ready-made or to to order-from my host, who, for

here, let me remark, I approve highly of your wish to escape, with the least possible delay, from your present covering. Do you wish to confine yourself to the finishing of some work in a particular line-as woo

ised at his question. "All I can do is to

ean by that? W

nomy, which tells you all about it; so that I had never learned to define money, but only how to spend it. Presently I thought the best way out of the muddle was to show him some, and I accordingly pulled out my big leather book-purse from my breast pocket. It had an ancient, musty smell, like e

y disappointed. "I fancy I must have been making ducks and drakes of a lot o

athering round the table, examining the gold and notes with eager curiosity. A

a little amused. "Have you nev

, on one side with a roughly-executed figure of a woman's head, with the hair gathered on i

read the lett

ensible to me. But what have these small pieces of metal

hether you have the dollar or the rupee"-here I paused, seeing that he did not follow me. "My idea is this," I resumed, and coming down to very plain speaking: "I

oken he dropped the piece he held in his hand upon the table, and stared fixedly at me, assisted by all the others. Presently, in the profound silence which ensued, a l

y doing so was a general explosion, men and women joining in such a tempest of merriment that one might have im

t gravity, although it was plain to see that he st

e garments to wear in return for a small piece of paper, or for a few bits of this metal, is the most astound

quire," said I, in an aggrieved tone. "You seemed even to approve of the offer I mad

urely you possess the strength and skill common to all men,

Ah yes," I answered: "to go back to that subject, I do not know anything about wood-ca

hese things some one else will be released to perform works of skill; and as these are the most agre

difficulty. My desire is to change these clothes for others which will be more pleasing to the eye, at once

year's labor will be necessary to

of happiness in her society, and a year of healthy work in the fields could not hurt me, or interfere much with my prospects. Besides, I was not quite sure that my prospects were really worth thinking about just now. Certainly, I had always lived comfortably, spending money, eating and drinking of the best, and dressing well-that is, according to the London standard. And there was my dear old bachelor Uncle Jack-John Smith, Member of Parliament for Wormwood Scrubbs. That is to say, ex-Member; for, being a Liberal when the great change came at the last general election, he was ignominiously ousted from his seat, the Scrubbs proving at the finish a bitter place t

at sort of thing. And, besides, it would be very hard to get back from a place where even the name of London was unknown. And perhaps, if I ever should succeed in getting back, it would only be to encounter a second Roger Tichborne case, or to be confronted wi

d I, "shall I have to wait until the end

I thought, would settle the

you should be differently clothed at once, and the ga

"I should like to have them as soon as possib

ince it is to make these things, shall also suspend other work until your garments are finished. And now, my son, from

fter looking round on us with a fatherly sm