brass knob, and showed us the shawl, the linen (sadly faded by
time) and the letter. We were puzzled by the shawl. My uncle, who
had served in the East, thought it looked like a very rare kind
of Persian work. We examined with interest the letter, and the
fine linen. When Michael quietly remarked, as we handed them back
to him, "They keep the secret, you see," we could only look at
each other, and own there was nothing more to be said

VII.

THAT night, lying awake thinking, I made my first discovery of a
great change that had come over me. I felt like a new woman.

Never yet had my life been so enjoyable to me as it was now. I
was conscious of a delicious lightness of heart. The simplest
things pleased me; I was ready to be kind to everybody, and to
admire everything. Even the familiar scenery of my rides in the
park developed beauties which I had never noticed before. The
enchantments of music affected me to tears. I was absolutely in
love with my dogs and my birds--and, as for my maid, I bewildered
the girl with presents, and gave her holidays almost before she
could ask for them. In a bodily sense, I felt an extraordinary
accession of strength and activity. I romped with the dear old
General, and actually kissed Lady Claudia, one morning, instead
of letting her kiss me as usual. My friends noticed my new
outburst of gayety and spirit--and wondered what had produced it.
I can honestly say that I wondered too! Only on that wakeful
night which followed our visit to Michael's room did I arrive at
something like a clear understanding of myself. The next morning
completed the process of enlightenment. I went out riding as