A SOUND WHICH REMINDS ME OF MY PAST The table was laid for luncheon in the dining-room, and as I took my seat at a place he pointed out, he went to a speaking tube and whistled down it. Then I heard him ordering the carriage to be ready in an hour. "Will that suit you?" he asked, looking at me. "Yes," I replied. I was laughing now. Oh, life had turned so in a moment from awfulness to loveliness. I never pinched myself to feel if I were in a dream or not. I have read about that in stories, and I think it's stupid, besides, I did not want to wake up if it was a dream. I did not want to talk either, I was too happy. I thought of the dinner I had yesterday. I could not remember what it was, then I remembered I had not dined yesterday at all; I had lent my last shilling to Jessie, who lives in the room below mine; she had sworn to pay me back in the evening if she was lucky, and then she came back drunk at twelve o'clock, swearing like a soldier, poor Jessie---- Wilder ate very little and spoke scarcely at all, I think the only thing he said in the way of conversation was "I never have servants in the room when I am eating;" and I said to myself, "Thank goodness." Just imagine how I would have felt if one of those dreadful men-servants had been gliding about the room,--my wristbands all frayed, my hands not very clean, for those cheap gloves dye one's hands, and my collar crumpled. Wilder wanted to open me some champagne, but I said no. I thought he looked pleased. He had a decanter before him, and he poured himself out a glass from it. "I don't ask you to take this," he said in an apologetic sort of manner; "because it would--well a glass of it would kill you, it's opium, I am used to it--all the worry I have had----" His head sunk on his breast, and I felt sorry for him, though he was so rich and lived in such a beautiful house. After a moment he looked up--we had finished eating. "Gerald," he said, "I want you to be happy; poor soul, you have suffered too, but perhaps it is for the best." "Why do you call me Gerald?" I asked, staring at him. A dreamy look had come over his strange face, perhaps it was the opium. "Did I call you Gerald?" he said, "well, you will know why soon, I want you to be happy." He rose from the table. "Come," he said, "I will show you to your room." I followed him into the hall, then up a great broad staircase carpeted with soft fleecy carpet; on the first landing he opened a door. "This is your room," he said, "you will find everything you require; when you are ready come downstairs and you will find the carriage waiting." He shut the door on me, and I found myself alone.