emper and a peremptoriness--of which indeed," he said,
smiling, "you have had experience. I am fond of doing things in my own
way, inconsiderate of others, and impatient if they do not go right. I
am hard, and perhaps even vulgar. But now I am going like a board to the
carpenter, to have some of my roughness planed out of me, and I hope to
do better."

"Well," I said, "I am too full of wonder and hope just now to be alarmed
for you. I could even wish I were myself departing. But I have a desire
to see Cynthia again."

"Yes," said Amroth, "and you will see her; but you will not be long
after me, brother; comfort yourself with that!"

We walked a little farther across the moorland, talking softly at
intervals, till suddenly I discerned a solitary figure which was
approaching us swiftly.

"Ah," said Amroth, "my time has indeed come. I am summoned."

He waved his hand to the man, who came up quickly and even breathlessly,
and handed Amroth a sealed paper. Amroth tore it open, read it
smilingly, gave a nod to the officer, saying "Many thanks." The officer
saluted him; he was a brisk young man, with a fresh air; and he then,
without a word, turned from us and went over the moorland.

"Come," said Amroth, "let us descend. You can do this for yourself now;
you do not need my help." He took my hand, and a mist enveloped us.
Suddenly the mist broke up and streamed away. I looked round me in
curiosity.

We were standing in a very mean street of brick-built houses, with
slated roofs; over the roofs we could see a spire, and the chimneys of
mills, spouting smoke. The houses had tiny smoke-dried gardens in front
of them. At the end of the street was an ugly, ill-tended field, on
which much rubbish lay. There were some dirty children playing about,
and a few women, with shawls over their heads, were standing together
watching a house opposite. The window of an upper room was open, and out
of it came cries and moans.

"It's going very badly with her," said one of the women, "poor soul; but
the doctor will be here soon. She was about this morning too. I had a
word with her, and she was feeling very bad. I said she ought to be in
bed, but she said she had her work to do first."

The women glanced at the window with a hushed sort of sympathy. A young
woman, evidently soon to become a mother, looked pale and apprehensive.

"Will she get through?" she said timidly.

"Oh, don't you fear, Sarah," said one of the women, kindly eno