Halcyone

the La Sarthe it had been the land steward's-but when there was no longer any land

t not to be investigated; she resented it, too-because a hole in the park paling had often let her i

pulled jauntily over her brow-the delightful feeling of adventure tingling in her veins. Yes, the gap w

new board here and there in the shutters; but nothing further. She peeped over the low sill, and there her eyes met those of an o

nce, his gray hair was longer than is usual

heiron in the picture of him in h

her and the old man ros

e did n

girl?" he said. "An

you have come here?" she answered f

d man

" he said, gravely, "but unfortuna

y, as though La Sarthe Chase had been Windsor Castle-"and I have been

t. But how would it be if I said you might come into the gard

cyone. "What are al

are to

ng her delicate dark brows, "but why s

d man

lready," he said. "I have h

e- "and what are they about? I would like t

as written in Greek and she could not read it.

something nice i

ssi

't you tel

se you come in and have tea with m

hall I climb through the window-I can quite easi

ll serve," sai

ight as a young kid, Ha

and into that she nestled, crossing her knees and clas

k?" asked t

f course; the

ng that bell s

g to ask where it was-she disliked stupid people herself. The old man wa

of the mantelpiece, but she found i

a strange-looking man,-a dark, extre

in an unknown language

hat?" aske

ervant,-he wi

not E

s that

t what country do

ask him

hed out her slender arms, "I want to fly

ime," said

ery tired of only the Aunts La Sarthe. They ne

it isn't what they have heard a hundred t

perhaps I might understand, and in any

ers, although there are only two of th

at all events," said the old man. "The Three

ous answers to Perseus, saying old things were better than new-and their day better than his-I should have thrown their

ght. It is

y better, th

or through and through with his wise gray eyes-an investigation whi

of my head-and I wish I could see the other side of yours, I can the A

be disappointed, though, if

times I find the other side not a bit what this is-even in the bi

d man

tances," he said. "Tell me some more of

heart-and I know it is all true though my governess says it is fairy-t

is too

t to know, them-I want to know why Medusa

d man

"you won't tell me, bu

y you shall k

new-mathematics and geometry, rather-and especially logic and metaphysics, because I want to know the meaning of words and the art of reas

nother voice, and when I am alone up a tree away from people, and all is beautiful, it seems to make i

aid the old man, and then he add

y?" demand

gs tribulation-but since you have one we may a

oriental china pleased Halcyone whose perceptions took in

he poured out the tea, forgetting to enquire her tastes as to cream

onsideration for the moment. So she helped herself to what she wanted and sat down again in her armchair. She did not even rattle her teasp

like to come here pretty often and

ded from her

I am not stupid-not really stupid Mademo

then; I shall teach you about my friends the Greeks, and you shall teach

lender shape and balanced head, from that long line of La Sarthe ancestors, and she tha

?" she said afterwards. "I must go now or they wi

the window again, and on down the path, and through the hole in t

ns from looking back!-Yes

d to his pipe a