smiled, and stretched out his arms.

"Beloved," he said, "I am very glad to see you; but what are you doing
in my room?"

Hildegarde made no answer. She bent over and took the child in her arms;
raised him a little, with his head resting on her shoulder, so that he
could see beyond her. His eyes travelled round the room, growing rounder
and larger every moment, as in the broadening light one object after
another shone out, familiar, and yet strange.

"Beloved," he said, "I beg your pardon! But what am _I_ doing in _your_
room? Will you make me understand, please?"

"You have been asleep, darling!" said Hildegarde. "You were not very
well, and--and you happened to be here at the time, and so--we put you
to bed here, you see."

"I don't see very well!" said Hugh, in quite his own manner. "But
probably I shall in a little while. How long have I been asleep?"

"Oh, quite a long time. But aren't you hungry now, little boy? See, here
is Auntie, and she is going to bring you up some breakfast, the very
best breakfast you can think of. What do you say to chicken broth?"

Hugh nodded and smiled at Auntie, who stood devouring him with her eyes.

"Thank you!" he said. "I think I shall be hungry,--when my think comes
back a little more. My think--my mind--has been asleep, I am pretty
sure!" he added, looking up at Hildegarde with his quiet, penetrating
gaze.

"If I had only just gone to sleep with my eyes, Beloved, I should
remember about it; and I don't--remember--much of anything."

"Oh, never mind about it now, Hughie! When you feel stronger we will
talk it all over. See! I want to bathe your face and smooth your hair
before breakfast comes. Now you shall be my baby, and I will curl your
golden locks for you. Shall I put something good in the water? There!
Isn't that nice and fresh? And now you shall put on my dressing-jacket;
my beautiful new dressing-jacket, that Bell made for me. Here it is, all
fluttering with pink ribbons. Wasn't it dear of Bell to make it?"

"Bell!" said Hugh, meditatively; he seemed to be searching for something
in his mind.

"Bell--Bellerophon!"

"Never mind about Bellerophon now, dear," said Hildegarde, trying to
hide her anxiety, and to speak lightly. "We will have Bellerophon by and
by; we don't want him here."

But Hugh was not to be turned aside; his brain was now fully awake, and
at work, but his look was so calm and clear, his voice so natural and
peaceful, that Hildegarde felt re