d has been a very hard one," he
said. "I would gladly go back to Tadmor this very day, but for one
consideration--" He hesitated; the image of Sally was before him. The
tears rose in his eyes; he said no more.

Brother Bawkwell, driven hard by time, got on his legs, and handed
to Amelius the second of the two papers which he had taken out of his
pocket-book.

"Here is a purely informal document," he said; "being a few lines from
Sister Mellicent, which I was charged to deliver to you. Be pleased to
read it as quickly as you can, and tell me if there is any reply."

There was not much to read:--"The good people here, Amelius, have
forgiven me and let me return to them. I am living happily now, dear, in
my remembrances of you. I take the walks that we once took together--and
sometimes I go out in the boat on the lake, and think of the time when I
told you my sad story. Your poor little pet creatures are under my care;
the dog, and the fawn, and the birds--all well, and waiting for you,
with me. My belief that you will come back to me remains the same
unshaken belief that it has been from the first. Once more I say it--you
will find me the first to welcome you, when your spirits are sinking
under the burden of life, and your heart turns again to the friends
of your early days. Until that time comes, think of me now and then.
Good-bye."

"I am waiting," said Brother Bawkwell, taking his hat in his hand.

Amelius answered with an effort. "Thank her kindly in my name," he said:
"that is all." His head drooped while he spoke; he fell into thought as
if he had been alone in the room.

But the emissary from Tadmor, warned by the minute-hand on the watch,
recalled his attention to passing events. "You would do me a kindness,"
said Brother Bawkwell, producing a list of names and addresses, "if you
could put me in the way of finding the person named, eighth from the
top. It's getting on towards twenty minutes to three."

The address thus pointed out was at no great distance, on the northern
side of the Regent's Park. Amelius, still silent and thoughtful, acted
willingly as a guide. "Please thank the Council for their kindness to
me," he said, when they reached their destination. Brother Bawkwell
looked at friend Amelius with a calm inquiring eye. "I think you'll end
in coming back to us," he said. "I'll take the opportunity, when I see
you at Tadmor, of making a few needful remarks on the value of time."

Amelius went back