xpress emotions that may, in some future sphere, make themselves
known in terms other than are permitted to us. There is an inner
radiance that is beyond thought, that might conceivably utter itself
in music or in colour, but that can no more be translated into words
than can the radiance of the mid-day sun be more than indicated by
earthly painters with earthly pigments.

So it was with Larry and Christian. It chances now and then on this
old, and prosaic, and often tearful earth that some kindly spirit
leaves the door of Paradise a little open, and two happy
people--though sometimes it is only one--are caught inside for a time,
and come out, as Larry did, bewildered, dazzled, wandering back to
earth, he scarcely knew how, saying, drunkenly, to himself:

"Good Lord! She is so bright to-night!" as the blackbird said, who was
"blowing his bugle to one far bright star."

CHAPTER XXVIII

Old, prosaic, and often tearful, though this earth may be, few are
anxious to hasten their departure from it, and Daniel Prendergast,
Esq., M.P., abetted by the ministrations of that able consultant, Dr.
Mangan, "hung on," as his friends put it, with unexpected tenacity to
his share of the world. And, so far reaching are the etheric cords
that are said to bind us all together, Mr. Prendergast's grip of his
sorry and suffering life bestowed upon Larry and Christian three days
to be spent within the confines of Paradise.

This may seem an over-statement when it is recorded that their next
meeting was at 7 a.m. at a cubbing meet of the hounds, which occurred
on the morning following on Larry's discovery that the _entree_
to Paradise had been his for the asking; it is, however, no more than
the truth. Christian had exacted a promise from him that no word was
to be said to any other of the high contracting parties until Monday,
and, as they rode in at the Castle Ire gates, the matter was still
under debate.

"Three days we must have, just three, with this secret hidden between
us like a pearl in an oyster-shell! Larry, you know _I_ can keep
a secret!"

"And you think I can't!" said Larry, affronted.

"I don't think, I know it! But you must try! Don't forget I've got to
week-end at the--" she named people who lived in the next county.
"No one shall be told until I come home!"

This was when they were riding to the meet. Larry had brought over
Joker, the bay horse, for her and he was himself riding a small grey
four-year-old m