v.] HARRY’S DREAM. 247

you for the present. However, since we have met so
conveniently, we may as well have a little more con-
versation before we part, which J think I should like
to carry on in rather a different position from that
which I occupy at present.’ So saying, the speaker
suddenly swung up and caught with his hands the
branch from which he had been hanging, and by this
means was enabled to let himself down so as to fall on
his feet. Then, crossing his legs under him, he sat
down within three or four yards of Harry, put on his
wide-awake, folded his arms across his breast, and
looked the boy steadily in the face.

Harry regarded all these proceedings with great
equanimity, and began to wonder what would happen
next. He had not, however, much opportunity for
wondering. A drowsy, dreamy feeling stole gradually
over him under the gaze of the old gentleman. The
trees, the fern, the strange little figure before him, all
seemed to grow dull, shadowy, and indistinct, and the
last thing Harry remembered was that a gratified and
triumphant smile stole over his companion’s face as if
he had completely succeeded in some desired object.
With that smile before him, Harry lost all conscious-
ness for a time.

When he awoke it was to gaze upon a scene en-
tirely different from that upon which he had closed
his eyes. He was lying upon a small sofa which fitted
into a recess in the window of a drawing-room. The
window was open, but before he looked out of it he
took a survey of the room itself, first rubbing his eyes
hard to assure himself that he was really awake.
The room was beautifully furnished, Costly mirrors