"No light yet!" he said in a slightly southern accent, and the
housekeeper let the curtain fall again.

The old man now passed through the broad hall, through an inner hall,
wherein against the walls stood huge oaken chests bearing porcelain
vases; then through the door opposite he entered a small lobby, from
which a narrow staircase led to the upper rooms at the back of the
house. He climbed the stairs slowly, unlocked a door at the top, and
landed in a room of medium size.

It was a comfortable, quiet retreat. One of the walls was lined with
cupboards and bookcases; on the other hung pictures of men and places;
on a table with a green cover lay a number of open books, and before
the table stood a massive arm-chair with a red velvet cushion.

After the old man had placed his hat and stick in a corner, he sat
down in the arm-chair and, folding his hands, seemed to be taking his
rest after his walk. While he sat thus, it was growing gradually
darker; and before long a moonbeam came streaming through the window-
panes and upon the pictures on the wall; and as the bright band of
light passed slowly onward the old man followed it involuntarily with
his eyes.

Now it reached a little picture in a simple black frame. "Elisabeth!"
said the old man softly; and as he uttered the word, time had changed:
he was young again.

* * * * *