a moment on Tish and
brightened. Then like a benediction they turned to mine, and came to a
stop on Aggie. He took a step farther into the room.

"My friend's friend are my friend," he said. "America is my friend--this
so great God's country!"

Aggie put down her ice-cream spoon and closed her mouth, which had been
open.

"Come in, Tufik," said Tish; "and I am sure Miss Pilkington would like
you to sit down."

Tufik still stood with his eyes fixed on Aggie, twisting his package.

"My friend has said," he observed--he was quite calm and divinely
trustful--"My friend has said that this is for Miss Pilk a sad day. My
friend is my mother; I have but her and God. Unless--but perhaps I have
two new friend also--no?"

"Of course we are your friends," said Aggie, feeling for the table-bell
with her foot. "We are--aren't we, Lizzie?"

Tufik turned and looked at me wistfully. It came over me then what an
awful thing it must be to be so far from home and knowing nobody, and
having to wear trousers and celluloid collars instead of robes and
turbans, and eat potatoes and fried things instead of olives and figs
and dates, and to be in danger of being taken back and made into a
Mohammedan and having to keep a harem.

"Certainly," I assented. "If you are good we will be your friends."

He flashed a boyish smile at me.

"I am good," he said calmly--"as the angels I am good. I have here a
letter from a priest. I give it to you. Read!"

He got a very dirty envelope from his pocket and brought it round the
table to me. "See!" he said. "The priest says: 'Of all my children Tufik
lies next my heart.'"

He held the letter out to me; but it looked as if it had been copied
from an Egyptian monument and was about as legible as an outbreak of
measles.

"This," he said gently, pointing, "is the priest's blessing. I carry
it ever. It brings me friends." He put the paper away and drew a long
breath; then surveyed us all with shining eyes. "It has brought me you."

We were rather overwhelmed. Aggie's maid having responded to the bell,
Aggie ordered ice cream for Tufik and a chair drawn to the table; but
the chair Tufik refused with a little, smiling bow.

"It is not right that I sit," he said. "I stand in the presence of my
three mothers. But first--I forget--my gift! For the sadness, Miss
Pilk!"

He held out the tissue-paper package and Aggie opened it. Tufik's gift
proved to be a small linen doily, with a Cluny-lace border!