he next moment, another bird appeared;
this was a black bird, strong and even clumsy, but it alighted in the
same way on the balustrade, a little further off, and Linus could see
its sparkling eye and strong claws. Then came a little bird like a
wren, which went as noiselessly as it came; then several birds all at
once. Linus was so much surprised at the sight of these birds that he
had no eyes for anything else, till his guide touched him on the arm,
and he looked up and saw that the room was not unoccupied.

There was a large table of some dark wood in the centre, and by it
stood a man who seemed to be reading in a book which lay open on the
table, following the lines with his finger; and Linus thought, though
he could not see the face, that as he read he wept. And at the same
time he knew that this was the master of the house, though how he knew
it he could hardly explain, except for the awed and reverent look in
the face of his guide; in the presence of the former writer, whom they
had just left, his guide had borne himself, he now reflected, as the
son of a house might bear himself in the presence of an old and
trusted servant, who was valued more for his honesty than for his
courtesy.

But here all was different, and Linus too felt a silent awe stealing
into his mind, he knew not why, at the sight of the still and gracious
figure.

The messenger made a movement with his hand as though Linus were to go
forward, so he stepped towards the table; and then he waited, but the
man drew a little aside and put the book towards Linus, as though he
were to look at it. Linus looked, and saw that it was one of the
former books of records; and something of the same wistful sadness
came over him at the thought of all the evil words and deeds that were
here noted. But now there came a great and wonderful surprise; for, as
the man ran his fingers along the lines, they became faint and
blurred, and presently the page seemed clean, just as the water dies
out of a cloth which is put before a hot fire; it seemed to Linus as
though the writing vanished most speedily when one of the birds lit on
the railing; and presently he was sure of this, for each time that a
bird came on the ledge the man raised his head a little and seemed to
consider--and all the while the dawn brightened over the sea.

Then Linus saw that the hand which moved over the page, a beautiful
yet strong hand, was strangely scarred; and at this he caught his
breath