AN UNDESIRED BLESSING.


Alwyn had listened with an absorbed yet somewhat mystified air of
attention.

"The venerable Esdras was certainly a poet in his own way!" he
remarked lightly. "There is something very fascinating about the
rhythm of his lines, though I confess I don't grasp their meaning.
Still, I should like to have them all the same,--will you let me
write them out just as you have translated them?"

Willingly assenting to this, Heliobas read the extract over again,
Alwyn taking down the words from his dictation.

"Perhaps," he then added musingly, "perhaps it would be as well to
copy a few passages from the Apocrypha also."

Whereupon the Bible was brought into requisition, and the desired
quotations made, consisting of verses xxiv. to xxvi. in the
[Footnote: The reader is requested to refer to the parts of
"Esdras" here indicated.] ninth chapter of the Second Book of
Esdras, and verses xxv. to xxvi. in the tenth chapter of the same.
This done, Heliobas closed and clasped the original text of the
Prophet's work and returned it to its casket; then addressing his
guest in a kindly, yet serious tone, he said: "You are quite
resolved to undertake this journey, Mr. Alwyn?"

Alwyn looked dreamily out of the window at the flame of the sunset