ere most ingenious and extraordinarily lively; but the order was
perfect. At the end he called up two or three children who had shown
some impatience or jealousy in the lesson, and said a few half-humorous
words to them, with an air of affectionate interest.

"They are jolly little creatures," he said when they had all gone out.

"Yes," I said, with a sigh, "I do indeed envy you. I wish I could be set
to something of the kind."

"Oh, no, you don't," he said; "this is too simple for you! You want
something more artistic and more psychological. This would bore you to
extinction."

We walked all round the place, saw the games going on, and were
presently joined by Amroth, who seemed to be on terms of old
acquaintanceship with my friend. I was surprised at this, and he said:

"Why, yes, Amroth had the pleasure of bringing me here too. Things are
done here in groups, you know; and Amroth knows all about our lot. It is
very well organised, much better than one perceives at first. You
remember how you and I drifted to school together, and the set of boys
we found ourselves with--my word, what young ruffians some of us were!
Well, of course all that had been planned, though we did not know it."

"What!" said I; "the evil as well as the good?"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"That is not a very real distinction," said Amroth. "Of course the poor
bodies got in the way, as always; there was some fizzing and some
precipitation, as they say in chemistry. But you each of you gave and
received just what you were meant to give and receive; though these are
complicated matters, like the higher mathematics; and we must not talk
of them to-day. If one can escape the being shocked at things and yet be
untainted by them, and, on the other hand, if one can avoid pomposity
and yet learn self-respect, that is enough. But you are tired to-day,
and I want you just to rest and be refreshed."

Presently Amroth asked me if I should like to stay there awhile, and I
most willingly consented.

"You want something to do," he said, "and you shall have some light
employment."

That same day, before Amroth left me, I had a curious talk with him.

I said to him: "Let me ask you one question. I had always had a sort of
hope that when I came to the land of spirits, I should have a chance of
seeing and hearing something of some of the great souls of earth. I had
dimly imagined a sort of reception, where one could wander about and
list