He dwelt on the other side of the river, and lived there very happily, and Sunbeam and Moonbeam, who often used to go to have tea with him, always came back with wonderful accounts of what they had seen and heard and done. This afternoon I found him busy preparing medicines and consulting every now and then a large book, which he had compiled himself from his own investigations. But for all that he was willing enough that I should join him, though he still continued his work at odd intervals. I sat in the large open window and looked down on the river. It was very bright and full of life down there. Pleasure barges and swift canoes glided up and down the water, others walked upon its shining ripples, and every now and then a form would rise from it and shake the dashing spray far off in every direction. At last Philemon threw aside his work and joined me there. “You were up late last night,” he said. “Yes. I went with Virginius to the forest and he gave me an historical outline of the earth.” “Did it interest you?” “Very much. It accounts for a great deal which I did not understand before.” He looked at me. “I thought your experience was a large one,” he remarked. “I used to think so myself,” I admitted, laughing. “But lately I have come to the conclusion I know very little of what I thought I knew, so have altered my opinion.” “You have been in hell?” “Undoubtedly. That was another surprise for me. It was so different from what I thought.” “Are you quite sure you have never been there before?” he asked suddenly, and turned upon me a pair of eyes so scrutinising that, despite myself, I smiled. “I’m sure of nothing, but I have no recollection of it.” “I mean, you have never been there and found it as enjoyable as heaven.” It was my turn now to return the stare. “What do you mean?” I queried. “I wish to know where you came from.” “I am perfectly ignorant. If you wished me to find the way back to the place from whence I came I could not do so. I lived in a world at the other side of the magic mirror, and one day the mirror cracked and shivered from side to side and I alighted without premeditation on the earth, not even in my own habiliments but some which I borrowed for a masquerade. And being caught and taken seriously as a thief, and meeting with no intelligent person sharp enough to understand my case, I was branded forthwith and dispatched post haste to hell.” “You are sure this world you spoke of was not given you by Vestasian?” “Pardon me, I was not even king there.” He laughed. “Did you enjoy life?” “Why, yes. It was surprising the amount of evil one could bring about in a day and yet be entirely innocent oneself.” He looked at me. “Ah! be careful, Genius. You are giving yourself away. That is Vestasian’s peculiarity. Were you at all well acquainted with Plucritus?” “Why, yes. Before I was dropped willy-nilly in the little farm he and I were very friendly. He was such excellent company.”