e. I had never been in an artist's studio, but Sinfi
had talked to me of such places, and there were many signs that I was
in a studio now.'

'A studio! And not in London! Describe it, Winnie,' I said.

Although she had told me that the house was in the country, my mind
flew at once to Wilderspin's studio. 'You say that the gentleman was
not young, but that he had an expression of sorrow in his eyes. Had
he long iron-grey hair, and was he dressed--dressed, like a--like a
shiny Quaker?' So full was my mind of Mrs. Gudgeon's story that I was
positively using her language.

'Like a what?' exclaimed Winnie. 'Really, Henry, you have become very
eccentric since our parting. The gentleman had not iron-grey hair,
and he was not dressed in the least like a Quaker, unless a loose,
brown lounge coat tossed on anyhow over a waistcoat and trousers of
the same colour is the costume of a shiny Quaker. But it was the room
you asked me to describe. There were pictures on the walls, and there
were two easels, and on one of them I saw a picture. The gentleman
led me to a strange and very beautiful piece of furniture. If I
attempted to describe it I should call it a divan, under a gorgeous
kind of awning ornamented with Chinese figures in ivory and precious
stones. Now, isn't it exactly like an _Arabian Nights_ story, Henry?'

'Yes, yes, Winnie; but pray go on. What did the gentleman do?'

'He drew a chair towards me, and without speaking looked into my face
again. The expression in his eyes drew me towards him, as it had at
first done when I awoke from my trance; it drew me towards him partly
because it said, "I am lonely and in sorrow," and partly from
another cause which I could not understand and could never define,
howsoever I might try. "Where am I?" I said; "I remember nothing
since I fell on the sands. Where is Henry? Is he better or worse? Can
you tell me?" The gentleman said, "The friend you inquire about is a
long way from here, and you are a long way from Raxton." I asked him
why I was a long way from Raxton, and said, "Who brought me here? Do,
please, tell me what it means. I am amongst friends--of that I am
sure; there is something in your voice which assures me of that; but
do tell me what this mystery means." "You are indeed among friends,"
he said. Then looking at me with an expression of great kindness, he
continued, "It would be difficult to imagine where you could go
without finding friends, Miss Wynne."'

'Then