waters of revolt rising within me. An instant, and they gushed to the surface of my body, putting out the fires all over. Surcease from pain, a delicious oblivion overwhelmed me, and I sank back and forgot everything. Once out of dreams of dewy meadows I awoke, and found my hand in the hand of my uncle, who sat beside the bed. He was himself once more, the real loving normal Uncle Jenico, and I smiled drowzily on him, and dropped away again. A second time I awoke; and there was Fancy-Maria beside my pillow, softly rubbing a smut into her nose with her thumb, and repeating to herself the multiplication table to keep from nodding. “Three sevens ain’t twenty-four, Fancy-Maria,” I said, and off I went again. At last, and finally, after unravelling a great endless jest of a rope, I stuck at a prodigious knot, and gasped, and opened my eyes. “I thought that last snore would finish you,” said a voice. I sat up. I was in bed in my own room; the noonday sun glowed on the blind, and squatted down before the dead embers of the fire, sniggering like a Bonanza, was Harry. He rose, yawning, and came across to me. “All right?” he said. “Right as a trivet.” “Hungry?” “Just!” “You’ll do, then.” “Think I should--when I’ve had something to eat.” Sweet is the constitution of youth. It all came back to me now, and without distress. He sat down on the bed. “Why, whatever was up with you last night?” he asked curiously. “I don’t know,” I answered, shame-faced. “Didn’t you feel it?” “Not much. Not in that way. It was good enough for me to be safe. I say, you gave us a precious fright.” “I’m very sorry. I couldn’t help it. What happened? Was Uncle Jenico very put out about our not coming home?” “Near off his head, I should think. He’d sent for Sant. Nobody had heard or knew anything about us. But, of course, they never supposed it was quite so bad as it was.” “Poor old chap! I was an ass to go off like that. Well, what was decided?” His face fell a little sombre. “Sure you’re in a fit state to hear?” “O, I’m all right, I tell you. It would worry me not to know.”