town he regarded with curious interest, which often expressed itself in
childish exclamations of surprise as we made our way through the crowded
streets.

He was constantly calling my attention to things which, though familiar
and commonplace to me, were little less than wonderful to him.

"Look!" said he, suddenly taking hold of my arm. "There is a woman!"

He spoke in an eager, excited whisper, and shyly stepped behind me as
she passed us.

"They won't hurt you," said I, subduing my desire to laugh at his
remark.

Such unfamiliar exposure to the public eye soon began to grate upon
his nerves. I did not wonder at it, for nearly every one we met took
a second look at his commanding figure, and some stared at him rudely.
Remembering my own emotions when I first stood in his presence, I was
not at all surprised that others were moved in a like manner. His were
a face and form that stood out like those of some heroic statue in the
throng of common mortals.

The proving and recording of the will was left entirely in the hands of
a reputable lawyer, who said that these formalities would not detain us
longer than a week.

We had determined to spend the winter in New York before going to
England. Since reaching America my time had been quite filled with work
until my entrance upon the utter isolation of my uncle's home. It was
my earnest desire to see something of the big metropolis on the western
Atlantic. Moreover, Mr. Earl had advised me in his letters to give Rayel
a chance to know more of life in his own country before bringing him to
England.

When at last the faithful old mute had gone to his new home, and we had
turned our backs upon the silent and deserted mansion, Rayel was moved
to bitter tears. The thought of its loneliness, now that its master was
dead and we were leaving it, perhaps forever, brought sad feelings to my
heart. How calmly the old pines whispered together as we walked down the
road that morning I shall not soon forget.

We reached the American metropolis early in October, three years after
my first arrival there from England. I rented comfortable apartments on
Fifth Avenue, near Madison Square. As soon as Rayel had recovered from
the fatigue and excitement of the trip, we set about unpacking his
pictures and getting them framed. Our lightest room was reserved for a
studio, and the paintings were hung under Rayel's direction.

We were scarcely settled in our new home when we received an u