He came at length to the inn; a faded structure, and antique, like a
picture of the times of old. There men were drinking and talking;
men in gold lace, and with long purses filled with ancient coin.

The landlord was evidently a rich old fellow; he had a girdle of
jewels, and was otherwise habited much like a king.

He stared at Lek; so did his jovial comrades.

"Can you give a stranger hospitality until to-morrow?" asked the
young student, bowing.

"Until TO-MORROW! Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the innkeeper. "He asks for
hospitality until to-morrow!" he added to his six jolly companions.

"To-morrow--ha, ha, ha!" echoed one.

"Ha, ha, ha!" repeated another.

"Ha, ha, ha!" chorused the others, slapping their hands on their
knees. "To-morrow!"

Then a solemn look came into the landlord's face.

"Young man," said he, "don't you know, have you not heard? _We_ have
no to-morrows; our nights are long, long slumbers; each one is a
hundred years."

[Illustration: OLD PEASANT COSTUME.]

The six men were talking now, and the landlord turned from Lek and
joined in the conversation eagerly.

The shadows of the long twilight deepened. Men and women ran to and
fro in the streets. Every one seemed in a hurry, as though much must
be said and done in a brief time.

Presently a great bell sounded in a steeple. The hurrying people
paused. Each one uplifted his or her hands, waved them in a circle,
and cried,--

"Alas! TO-MORROW! Hurry, good men, all, good women, all, hurry!"

What did it mean? "Have I gone mad?" asked Lek. "Am I dreaming?"

Near the inn was a green, parched and faded. In the centre was a
withered tree; under it was a maiden. She was very fair; her dress
was of silk and jewels, and on her arms were heavy bracelets of
gold. Unlike the other people, she did not seem hurried and anxious.
She appeared to take little interest in the strangely stimulated
activities around her.

Lek went to her.

"Pardon a poor student seeking information," he said. "Your people
all treat me rudely and strangely; they will not listen to me. I am
a traveller, and I came here civilly, and only asked for food and
lodging until to-morrow."

"TO-MORROW! The word is a terror to most of them; it is no terror to
me. I care not for to-morrows,--they are days of disappointments; I
had them once,--I am glad they do not come oftener to me. I shall g