est of these houses. As we
were making our way between the plum-trees and gooseberry-bushes, I
perceived a tall figure standing in the midst of a great bed of
late-blossoming roses, over which he was bending as if to inhale their
fragrance. The sound of our steps startled him; and as he straightened
himself and faced us, I saw that it could be none other than Rueckert. I
believe his first impulse was to fly; but we were already so near that
his moment of indecision settled the matter. The student presented me to
him as an American traveller, whereat I thought he seemed to experience
a little relief. Nevertheless, he looked uneasily at his coat,--a sort
of loose, commodious blouse,--at his hands, full of seeds, and muttered
some incoherent words about flowers. Suddenly, lifting his head and
looking steadily at us, he said, "Come into the house!"

The student, who was familiar with his habits, led me to a pleasant room
on the second floor. The windows looked towards the sun, and were filled
with hot-house plants. We were scarcely seated before Rueckert made his
appearance, having laid aside his blouse, and put on a coat. After a
moment of hesitation, he asked me, "Where have you been travelling?" "I
come from the Orient," I answered. He looked up with a keen light in his
eyes. "From the Orient!" he exclaimed, "Where? let me know where you
have been, and what you have seen!" From that moment he was
self-possessed, full of life, enthusiasm, fancy, and humor.

He was then in his sixty-fifth year, but still enjoyed the ripe maturity
of his powers. A man of more striking personal appearance I have seldom
seen. Over six feet in height, and somewhat gaunt of body, the first
impression of an absence of physical grace vanished as soon as one
looked upon his countenance. His face was long, and every feature
strongly marked,--the brow high and massive, the nose strong and
slightly aquiline, the mouth wide and firm, and the jaw broad, square,
and projecting. His thick silver hair, parted in the middle of his
forehead, fell in wavy masses upon his shoulders. His eyes were
deep-set, bluish-gray, and burned with a deep, lustrous fire as he
became animated in conversation. At times they had a mystic, rapt
expression, as if the far East, of which he spoke, were actually visible
to his brain. I thought of an Arab sheikh, looking towards Mecca, at the
hour of prayer.

I regret that I made no notes of the conversation, in which, as may be