d the faces of the speakers; and along the arch, the leaves
upon the trellis stood out illuminated against the night sky, a pattern
of transparent green upon a dusky purple. The fat young man rose, and,
taking Will by the arm, led him out under the open heavens.

'Did you ever look at the stars?' he asked, pointing upwards.

'Often and often,' answered Will.

'And do you know what they are?'

'I have fancied many things.'

'They are worlds like ours,' said the young man. 'Some of them less;
many of them a million times greater; and some of the least sparkles that
you see are not only worlds, but whole clusters of worlds turning about
each other in the midst of space. We do not know what there may be in
any of them; perhaps the answer to all our difficulties or the cure of
all our sufferings: and yet we can never reach them; not all the skill of
the craftiest of men can fit out a ship for the nearest of these our
neighbours, nor would the life of the most aged suffice for such a
journey. When a great battle has been lost or a dear friend is dead,
when we are hipped or in high spirits, there they are unweariedly shining
overhead. We may stand down here, a whole army of us together, and shout
until we break our hearts, and not a whisper reaches them. We may climb
the highest mountain, and we are no nearer them. All we can do is to
stand down here in the garden and take off our hats; the starshine lights
upon our heads, and where mine is a little bald, I dare say you can see
it glisten in the darkness. The mountain and the mouse. That is like to
be all we shall ever have to do with Arcturus or Aldebaran. Can you
apply a parable?' he added, laying his hand upon Will's shoulder. 'It is
not the same thing as a reason, but usually vastly more convincing.'

Will hung his head a little, and then raised it once more to heaven. The
stars seemed to expand and emit a sharper brilliancy; and as he kept
turning his eyes higher and higher, they seemed to increase in multitude
under his gaze.

'I see,' he said, turning to the young man. 'We are in a rat-trap.'

'Something of that size. Did you ever see a squirrel turning in a cage?
and another squirrel sitting philosophically over his nuts? I needn't
ask you which of them looked more of a fool.'

CHAPTER II. THE PARSON'S MARJORY.

After some years the old people died, both in one winter, very carefully
tended by their adopted son, and very quietly mourned