know what I am saying, but you understand,--I am sure you
understand.'

'Isn't it a lark, old man,' Edgecumbe said with a laugh, 'isn't
it,--isn't it?--but there--I can't put it into words. Half the time I
seem to be dreaming. Things which happened years ago are coming in
crowds back to me, until half the time I am wondering whether after all
I am not somebody else. And yet I know I am not somebody else. Why,
here's dad, and here's the little mater'; and he looked at them
joyfully.

I could not help watching him anxiously, for after all he had just gone
through an experience which happens to but one man in a million. It
seemed to me as though I dimly understood the strange processes through
which his brain must have gone in order to bring about the present
state of things. During the earlier part of the day, all his past had
been a blank, now much of it was real to him. He had been like a man
with his life cut in two, one half being unknown to him; and now, as if
by a miracle, that half was restored. I wondered how he felt. I
feared he would not be able to stand the shock, and that he would
suffer a terrible reaction afterwards.

'You are all right, aren't you, old man?' I said. 'You--you don't feel
ill or anything of that sort?'

'Right as a skylark,' he said gaily, 'except that I am a bit tired.'

'You are sure, Jack, my darling?' said his mother, looking at him
anxiously. 'Sure there is nothing we can do for you? Oh, I wish we
were home!'

'Do you?' he said. 'I am not sure I agree with you.'

'Oh, but I do. You see, we don't know the Bolivicks very well,
and--and--we didn't come expecting anything like this, did we, John?'

'Anything like this!' ejaculated Lord Carbis, 'anything like this!
Why--why,--Jack, my boy!'--and he rubbed his eyes vigorously.

'I am sure Sir Thomas and Lady Bolivick are only too glad to have you
here,' I said, 'and nothing will be regarded as a trouble. Besides, I
am not sure that your son does not want to be here. But tell me, old
fellow, don't you think you ought to get to bed?'

A look of fear came into his eyes. 'No, not yet, not yet,' he said.
'I think I am afraid to go to sleep; afraid lest when I wake up I shall
find that great black cloud lying at the back of my mind again.'

'Then wouldn't it be wise to send for a doctor? The man who lives here
is not at all a bad chap;--you know that.'

Again he laughed gaily. 'I want no doctor. The little mother i