“And how was the glorifying done?” A sudden gloom overcast the Professor's jolly face. “They did it as I went home after the Election,” he mournfully replied. “It was kindly meant but I didn't like it! They waved flags all round me till I was nearly blind: and they rang bells till I was nearly deaf: and they strewed the road so thick with flowers that I lost my way!” And the poor old man sighed deeply. “How far is it to Outland?” I asked, to change the subject. “About five days' march. But one must go back--occasionally. You see, as Court-Professor, I have to be always in attendance on Prince Uggug. The Empress would be very angry if I left him, even for an hour.” “But surely, every time you come here, you are absent ten days, at least?” “Oh, more than that!” the Professor exclaimed. “A fortnight, sometimes. But of course I keep a memorandum of the exact time when I started, so that I can put the Court-time back to the very moment!” “Excuse me,” I said. “I don't understand.” Silently the Professor drew front his pocket a square gold watch, with six or eight hands, and held it out for my inspection. “This,” he began, “is an Outlandish Watch--” “So I should have thought.” “--which has the peculiar property that, instead of its going with the time, the time goes with it. I trust you understand me now?” “Hardly,” I said. “Permit me to explain. So long as it is let alone, it takes its own course. Time has no effect upon it.” “I have known such watches,” I remarked. “It goes, of course, at the usual rate. Only the time has to go with it. Hence, if I move the hands, I change the time. To move them forwards, in advance of the true time, is impossible: but I can move them as much as a month backwards---that is the limit. And then you have the events all over again--with any alterations experience may suggest.” “What a blessing such a watch would be,” I thought, “in real life! To be able to unsay some heedless word--to undo some reckless deed! Might I see the thing done?” “With pleasure!” said the good natured Professor. “When I move this hand back to here,” pointing out the place, “History goes back fifteen minutes!” Trembling with excitement, I watched him push the hand round as he described. “Hurted mine self welly much!” Shrilly and suddenly the words rang in my ears, and, more startled than I cared to show, I turned to look for the speaker. Yes! There was Bruno, standing with the tears running down his cheeks, just as I had seen him a quarter of an hour ago; and there was Sylvie with her arms round his neck! I had not the heart to make the dear little fellow go through his troubles a second time, so hastily begged the Professor to push the hands round into their former position. In a moment Sylvie and Bruno were gone again, and I could just see them in the far distance, picking 'dindledums.' “Wonderful, indeed!” I exclaimed.