n green; and the wide, wide sky
with fleets of cloud ships sailing to unseen ports below the
hills.

The man sat very still, and as he looked the worn face changed;
once, as if at some pleasing memory, he smiled. A gray squirrel
with bright eyes full of curious regard peeped over the limb of an
oak; a red bird hopping from bush to bush whistled to his mate;
and a bob-white's quick call came from a nearby thicket.

The dreamer was aroused at last by the musical tinkle of a bell.
He turned his face toward the sound, but could see nothing. The
bell was coming nearer; it came nearer still. Then he saw here and
there through the trees small, moving patches of white; an old ewe
followed by two lambs came from behind a clump of bushes, and the
moving patches of white shaped themselves into other sheep feeding
in the timber.

Mr. Howitt sat quite still, and, while the old ewe paused to look
at him, the lambs took advantage of the opportunity, until their
mother was satisfied with her inspection, and by moving on, upset
them. Soon the whole flock surrounded him, and, after the first
lingering look of inquiry, paid no heed to his presence.

Then from somewhere among the trees came the quick, low bark of a
dog. The man looked carefully in every direction; he could see
nothing but the sheep, yet he felt himself observed. Again came
the short bark; and this time a voice--a girl's voice, Mr. Howitt
thought--said, "It's alright, Brave; go on, brother." And from
behind a big rock not far away a shepherd dog appeared, followed
by a youth of some fifteen years.

He was a lightly built boy; a bit tall for his age, perhaps, but
perfectly erect; and his every movement was one of indescribable
grace, while he managed, somehow, to wear his rough backwoods
garments with an air of distinction as remarkable as it was
charming. The face was finely molded, almost girlish, with the
large gray eyes, and its frame of yellow, golden hair. It was a
sad face when in repose, yet wonderfully responsive to every
passing thought and mood. But the eyes, with their strange
expression, and shifting light, proclaimed the lad's mental
condition.

As the boy came forward in a shy, hesitating way, an expression of
amazement and wonder crept into the stranger's face; he left his
seat and started forward. "Howard," he said; "Howard."

"That ain't his name, Mister; his name's Pete," returned the
youth, in low, soft tones.

In the voice and manner of the