hues to the flowers that were strange and weird, so that it was a matter of real difficulty to say what the colours actually were.  Then he wondered how it was he had never before discovered what an inspiring thing it was to wander all alone at night about a garden illuminated by a brilliant moon.  The shadows were so black and secret, the radiance so spiritual, the shapes so startlingly fantastic, it was like being in another world.  And then the silence.  That was the most compelling charm of all.  It helped him to feel.  And he felt that he was not alone, though he heard nothing and saw nobody.  The garden was full of flower-fairies, invisible elves and sprites whose mission it was to guard the flowers, and who loved the moonlight more than they loved the day; dainty, diaphanous creatures who were wafted across the smooth lawns on summer breezes, and washed the thirsty petals and drooping leaves in the dew which the clear blue air of night diffuses so abundantly.  He had a sense—­almost a knowledge—­that the garden he was in was a dream-garden, a sort of panoramic phantasm, and that the real garden lay behind it somehow, hidden from material eyesight, eluding material touch, but there all the same, unearthly and elysian, more beautiful a great deal than the one in which he was standing, and teeming with gracious presences.  It seemed a revelation to him, this sudden perception of a real world underlying the apparent one; and for nearly half-an-hour he sauntered to and fro in a reverie, leaning sometimes against the old stone fountain, and sometimes watching the pale clouds as they began flitting together as though to keep a rendezvous in space, until they concealed the face of the moon entirely from view and left the garden dark.

* * * * *

Whether Austin had strange dreams that night or no, certain it is that when he came down to breakfast in the morning his face was set and there was a look of unusual preoccupation in his eyes.  Aunt Charlotte, being considerably preoccupied with her own affairs, noticed nothing, and busied herself with the teapot as was her wont.  Austin chipped his egg in silence, while his auntie, helping herself generously to fried bacon, made some remark about the desirability of laying a good foundation in view of her journey up to town.  Thereupon Austin said: 

“Is it absolutely necessary for you to go to town this morning, auntie?”

“Of course it is,” replied Aunt Charlotte, munching heartily.  “I told you so last night.”

“Why can’t you go to-morrow instead?” asked Austin, tentatively.  “Would it be too late?”

“I’ve arranged to go to-day,” said Aunt Charlotte, with decision.  “The sooner this business is settled the better.  What should I gain by waiting?”

“I don’t see any particular hurry,” said Austin.  “It’s only giving yourself trouble for nothing.  If I were you I’d write what you want to say, and then go up to see these people if their answer was still unsatisfactory.”