absurd and impossible! His senses had tricked him! The light had
blinded his eyes and imagination had done the rest! And yet--

He strode to the window and looked out. The garden was empty and still.
Only, under the window, at the edge of the path, lay a spray of purple
lilac.




IV.


"Eh? Yes? What is it?"

Wade sat up in bed and stared stupidly about him. In Heaven's name where
was he? And what was the noise that had awakened him? There it was
again!

_Rat, tat, tat, tat!_

Was he still asleep? What was this room? The stove looked dimly
familiar, and there were his clothes over the back of a green rep
rocker. But where--Then memory routed sleep and he sank back onto the
pillow with a sigh of relief. It was all right. He remembered now. He
was in his own cottage in Eden Village, he had had a fine long sleep and
felt ready for--

_Rat, tat, tat, tat--TAT!_