as we pleased. A hard sentence, gentlemen--whatever _we_ may think of
it--to homeless and friendless people, to the Fallen Leaves that had
drifted to Tadmor. In my case it had been already arranged that I was
to leave. After what had happened, my departure was made compulsory in
four-and-twenty hours; and I was forbidden to return, until the date
of my sentence had expired. In Mellicent's case they were still more
strict. They would not trust her to travel by herself. A female member
of the Community was appointed to accompany her to the house of her
married sister at New York: she was ordered to be ready for the journey
by sunrise the next morning. We both understood, of course, that the
object of this was to prevent our travelling together. They might have
saved themselves the trouble of putting obstacles in our way."

"So far as You were concerned, I suppose?" said Mr. Hethcote.

"So far as She was concerned also," Amelius answered.

"How did she take it, sir?" Rufus inquired.

"With a composure that astonished us all," said Amelius. "We had
anticipated tears and entreaties for mercy. She stood up perfectly calm,
far calmer than I was, with her head turned towards me, and her eyes
resting quietly on my face. If you can imagine a woman whose whole being
was absorbed in looking into the future; seeing what no mortal creature
about her saw; sustained by hopes that no mortal creature about her
could share--you may see her as I did, when she heard her sentence
pronounced. The members of the Community, accustomed to take leave of an
erring brother or sister with loving and merciful words, were all more
or less distressed as they bade her farewell. Most of the women were in
tears as they kissed her. They said the same kind words to her over and
over again. 'We are heartily sorry for you, dear; we shall all be glad
to welcome you back.' They sang our customary hymn at parting--and broke
down before they got to the end. It was _she_ who consoled _them!_ Not
once, through all that melancholy ceremony, did she lose her strange
composure, her rapt mysterious look. I was the last to say farewell; and
I own I couldn't trust myself to speak. She held my hand in hers. For
a moment, her face lighted up softly with a radiant smile--then the
strange preoccupied expression flowed over her again, like shadow over a
light. Her eyes, still looking into mine, seemed to look beyond me. She
spoke low, in sad steady tones. 'Be comforted, A