ead, the strength and
yet lightness of limb, together with the hands and feet, not too
small, that I always imagine the dwellers in Paradise will have.

I returned to Melbourne and continued trying to find A. At the
same time I commenced in earnest to live on fruit and brown bread
only, and enjoyed better tone and health every day, so that it
was a joy to walk down the street in the sun and exchange glances
with passengers a la old Walt. One day in the Botanical Gardens
veils seemed to be lifted off my eyes. I could look straight at
the sun and taking my note of color from that golden light I
turned my eyes on the flowers, the mown grass, the trees, and for
the first time perceived what a heavenly color green is, what
divine companions flowers are, and what a blue sky really means.
For half an hour I was in Paradise, and to complete my joy Nature
revealed to me a new and unexpected secret.

I was lying on a bench, basking, and my silk shirt coming open
the strong sun made its way to my breast and presently I felt a
totally new sensation there. I had discovered the last joy of the
skin. My skin, fed by healthy fruit-made blood, must have
functioned normally under the excitation of the sun just then
(for a brief space only, alas!). I cannot describe the joy, any
more than I could describe the taste of a peach to one who has
only eaten apples: it was satisfying, divine. I opened my shirt
wider, but the feeling only spread faintly, and indeed this
halcyon sunny hour terminated in a restlessness that sent me
walking into town to look for A.

At last I heard, not of A., but of Miss T. She was in a ballet. I
went round during rehearsal and while waiting entered into
conversation with a little chorus girl with a good face, who was
sewing. On my telling her whom I was seeking she stopped sewing
and looked at me quickly: "Oh, are you her husband? I know her.
_I have seen them together_." She looked as if she were going to
tell me something, but merely shook her old-fashioned head in a
mournful, indescribable way, saying "Why don't you keep your wife
with you?" I went to the door and presently saw Miss T. She tried
to avoid me, I thought, and looked more vicious than ever, but
after a minute's thought reluctantly told me where she and A.
were staying. To hide my fears and suspicions