had lain the
wonder realm of childhood.

He came to the spot where the gate to Consolation Cottage had been. The
old wooden gate and the two friendly, square brick pillars on which it
had swung were gone; but in their stead rose a wondrous structure of
scrolled wrought iron between two splendid granite shafts.

Lewis stood on tiptoe and gazed through the gate, up the driveway, to
where Consolation Cottage had once stood. Through the tepid haze of a
beautiful tropical garden he saw a high villa. It did not look back at
him. It seemed to be watching steadily from its hilltop the spread of
the mighty city in the valley below.

Lewis was brought to himself with a start. Somebody behind him cried
out, "O-la!" He turned to find two impatient horses almost on top of
him. A footman was springing from his place beside the coachman to open
the gate.

Lewis stepped aside. In the smart victoria sat a lady alone. She was
dressed in white, and wore a great, black picture-hat. Lewis glanced at
her face. He recognized the Anglo-Saxon pallor. Out of the dead-white
shone two dark eyes, unnaturally bright. He raised his hat.

"I beg your pardon," he began in English.

The gate had swung open. The horses were plunging on the taut reins. The
lady drew her skirts in at her side and nodded. Lewis stepped into the
carriage. The horses shot forward and up the drive.

CHAPTER XXXI

"It was the only way," said the lady as Lewis handed her out of the
carriage. "The horses wouldn't wait, once the gates were open. What did
you wish to say?"

"I--I wanted to ask you about the Leightons," stammered Lewis. "They
used to live here. That is--"

"I know," said the lady. "Come up on the veranda."

That veranda made Consolation Cottage seem farther away than ever to
Lewis. Its floor was tiled. Its roof was cleverly arranged to give a
pergola effect. It was quite vine-covered. The vines hid the glass that
made it rain-proof. In one corner rugs were placed, wicker chairs, a
swinging book-rack, and a tea-table. The lady motioned to Lewis to sit
down. She sat down herself and started drawing off her long gloves. She
looked curiously at Lewis's face.

"You're a Leighton yourself, aren't you? Some relative to Mrs. Leighton
and Natalie?"

Lewis nodded.

"A cousin in some Scotch degree to Natalie," he said; "I don't know just
what." Then he turned his eyes frankly on her.

"Where are they--Mrs. Leighton and--and Natalie?"

"They are g