ttom shelf; I've worked my way up. I'm on the fifth shelf by the
door now. I do not seem to be able to get any further than this--" She
passed the book to him. "I've been at this book three whole months! I
sort of hoped--please forgive me, but I sort of hoped--I might get to
the sixth shelf before you came back!"

"Shakespeare!" mused the master of Bluff Head, "and he's held you three
months, Miss Janet, after you've waded through heaven only knows what?"

"Yes: he makes me forget everything. I cannot explain, only he sings to
me, and he talks to me, and he makes me a hundred people all in one."

"Miss Janet, heaven forbid! that a mere master of Bluff Head should
close the gates to this Genius' Eden to such a lover as you! Allow me."
He handed out the key that had given him entrance to his home. "Permit
me to give you royal freedom to what, surely, is more yours than mine. A
cellar window has been honored enough; the doorway is not wide enough
for so true a worshipper."

"I do not understand you! I fear you are laughing at me."

"Heaven save us! No, my child, I mean simply this. Come at your own
sweet will and read to your heart's content. If you will graciously
permit me, I most gladly will wander with you through these--" He waved
his hand toward the shelves. "I may be able to point out some new
pleasure-paths; I am certain you can make me love old ones better. If I
am absent from Bluff Head, I will leave orders that you are to be
undisturbed while you honor this room! I trust my old friend of the
Light is well?"

"Yes. But, oh! how can I thank you?"

"By returning, my dear child! There I hear Saxton, how the time has
flown!" He arose and Janet slipped to her feet, and passed from the
room. Devant called after her.

"Good bye, for the present, Janet of the Dunes!" For a moment the girl
paused.

"Good bye, Mr. Government!" she replied, and was gone, leaving a
trailing ripple of laughter as a memory of the strange meeting.

CHAPTER IV

"Janet, where you goin'?"

"Over to the Hills, Susan Jane."

"Everythin' rid up?"

"Everything."

"I never felt my powerlessness so much as I have since you come."

"I'm sorry, Susan Jane. It must be hard to see others active, if one is
tied as you are. Try not to look at me."

"Not look at you? Huh! Gals need watchin'. I know it would suit more'n
you, like as not, if I'd been struck blind as well as helpless. But I
ain't blind. I see all that's goin', an' mo