Sylvie and Bruno

cry was still ringing in my ears, even if the startled look of my fellow-travel

stammered out at last. "I have no

lips that would curve themselves into a smile, in spite of all her

I were fairly awake. "And that sweet look of innocent wonder is all Sylvie's too. But Sylvie hasn't got that calm resolute mouth nor that far-away look

-one could understand it: those things aren't worth the shilling, unless they give one a Nightmare. But really-with only a

, almost, she seemed to be: I guessed her at scarcely over twenty-all was the innocent frankness of some angelic visitant, new to the ways of ea

n," I ventured to suggest, "unl

ature-are very poor affairs. I feel inclined to say, with Alexander Selkirk, 'Their tameness is shocki

pressive phrase, certainly. Can i

o. "It has to be something thick. For instance, you might welter in bread-sauce. Th

terrifying Ghost in

my hands. I opened it eagerly, with a not unpleasant thrill (like what a good ghost-story gives

tic Cookery, open at t

some of the modern ghosts, I assure you! Now there was a Ghost last month-I don't mean a real Ghost in in Supernature-but in a Magazin

rvals, here we have an old man and a child, quite at their ease, talking as if they had known each other for years! Then you think," I continued aloud, "that we ought sometimes to ask a

she almost clapped her hands. "Yes, yes, he does!" she c

uppose, means

rocking-cha

nced, flinging open the door of the carriage: and we soon found ou

hree sitters only: and even this was already partially occupied by a very old man, in a smock frock, who sat, with rounded shoulders and droopi

perfectly different tone. "If your Ladyship will take a seat, the train will be up in a few minutes." The cringing servility of his manner was due, no d

his feet, and hobble a few paces down

oth couch th

stiffen'd li

ars had flun

locks and fl

'Come, yo

his stick, she turned to me. "This is not an American rocking-chair, by any means! Yet may I say," slightly changing her p

ded, as the tiny local train drew up alongside the platform, and the porters bustled about, opening carriage-doors-one of them helping the p

shame to let him be turned away like that. I'm very sorry-" At this moment it dawned on me that these words were not addressed to me, but tha

rail, if only in a dream: 'pertur

nal booklets peculiar to the Rail. If Steam has done nothing else

true origin of all our medical

normal. But the booklets-the little thrilling romances, where the Murder comes

lop your theory we shall have leaflets instead of booklets,

developing a mouse into an elephant, you would develop an elephant into a mouse!" But here we plunged into a tunn

isted on conjugating itself, and ran into "you thought you saw-

t he saw a

ctised o

gain, and f

r from

I realise

terness

mad one, by the way he brandished his rake-madder, by the way he broke, ever and anon, into a

...The

him was skin and bone: and the wisps of loose straw, that bristled all about him, suggeste

. Then Sylvie advanced alone (Bruno having suddenly turned shy) a

other thing?', s

looking round. "Oh, that'

yesterday?" the Garde

rept nearer, and didn't at all like being talked

nge so, here. Whenever I look again, it's sure to be something

iggle so early. It's as bad as being a wo

ng, Bruno," said Sylvie. "Remember, it'

wn. "I don't like eating worms, one bit. I always

ace to tell me such fi

ed "Oo don't want a face to

subject. "And did you plant

ve made! Do you know, I'd

ghts-" the Garden

you please let us through into the road? There's a poor old beggar just go

ner muttered, taking a key from his pocket, an

wurf?" Bruno in

me back quick!" he called after the children, as they passed out into t

the old Beggar, about a quarter of a mile ahead of us, a

d how it was I kept up with them so easily. But the unsolved problem did not worry me so

of him and held up the slice of cake. The poor little fellow was quite out of breath, and could only utter the one word "Cake!" not with the gloomy decision with which

d beast might have done, but never a word of thanks did he give his little ben

her eyes. "I'd eaten mine. It was a shame to le

f surprise, to Lady Muriel Orme, who had so lately uttered these very words of

that stood by the road side, which began instantly to sink into the earth. At another time I might have doubted the evidence of my eyes, or at

le steps were seen, leading downwards into darkness

own after their guide: but it got lighter every moment, with a strange silvery brightness, that seemed to exist in the air, as there

ch hung quantities of ripe fruit and of brilliant flowers, that almost hid the leaves. In another place, perchance, I might have wondered to see fruit and flowers growing together: here, my chief wonder was that

ake out how in the world we had come in: for there was no door:

r, and bending down to kiss her. Sylvie drew back hastily, with an offended air: but

A beggar'

d but rub my eyes and say "Where, then, are the rags gone to?"; for the old man was now dressed in r