"The shapes had all vanished; and the king, again lifting up his eyes, saw but the wall of his own chamber, on which flickered the Shadow of a Little Child. He looked down, and there, sitting on a stool by the fire, he saw one of his own little ones, waiting to say good night to his father, and go to bed early, that he might rise as early, and be very good and happy all Christmas-day. "And Ralph Rinkelmann rejoiced that he was a man, and not a Shadow." * * * * * When I had finished my story, the not unusual silence followed. It was soon broken by Adela. "But what were those other shadows, mysteries in the midst of mystery?" persisted she. "My dear, as the little child said shadows were the ghosts of the body, so I say these were the shadows of the mind.--Will that do?" "I must think. I don't know. I can't trust you.---I _do_ believe, uncle, you write whatever comes into your head; and then when any one asks you the meaning of this or that, you hunt round till you find a meaning just about the same size as the thing itself, and stick it on.--Don't you, now?" "Perhaps _yes_, and perhaps _no_, and perhaps both," I answered. "You have the most confounded imagination I ever knew, Smith, my boy!" said the colonel. "You run right away, and leave me to come hobbling after as I best can." "Oh, never mind; I always return to my wife and children," I answered; and being an old bachelor, this passed for a good joke with the kind-hearted company. No more remarks were made upon my Shadow story, though I was glad to see the curate pondering over it. Before we parted, the usual question of who was to read the next, had to be settled. "I proposed, for a change," said the curate, "that the club meet at my house the next time, and that the story be omitted for once. We'll have some music, and singing, and poetry, and all that sort of thing. What do you say, Lizzie?" "With all my heart," answered Mrs. Armstrong. "You forget," said the colonel, "that Adela is not well enough to go out yet." Adela looked as if she thought that was a mistake, and glanced towards the doctor. I think Percy caught sight of the glance as it passed him. "If I may be allowed to give a professional opinion," said Harry, "I think she could go without the smallest danger, if she were well wrapped up." "You can have the carriage, of course, my love," said her father, "if you would like to go." "I should very much like to go," said Adela. And so it was settled to the evident contentment of all except the mother and son, who, I suppose, felt that Adela was slipping through their fingers, in this strengthening of adverse influences. I was sure myself, that nothing could be better for her, in either view of the case. Harry did not stay behind to ask her any questions this evening, but left with the rest. The next day, the bright frosty weather still continuing, I took Adela out for a walk. "You are much better, I think, my dear," I said.