RAB AND HIS FRIENDS,

mirror to her face. After a long pause,
one small spot of dimness was breathed
out; it vanished away and never returned,
leaving the blank, clear darkness of the
mirror without a stain. “What is our
life? It is even a vapor, which appear-
eth for a little time, and then vanisheth
away.”

Rab, all this time, had been full awake
and motionless; he came forward beside

_us; Ailie’s hand, which James had held,
was hanging down; it was soaked with
his tears; Rab licked it all over carefully,
looked at her, and returned to his place
under the table.

James and I sat, I don’t know how long,
but for some time, saying nothing; he
started up abruptly, and with some noise
went to the table, and putting his right
fore and middle fingers each into a shoe,
pulled them out and put them on, break-
ing one of the leather latchets, and mut-

35