never set and whither no one dared
venture alone, only hand in hand with that other being, the future
mate, the pupil and teacher of love, the only one that mattered.

And the wedding was to be in four weeks from this day. The invitations
were not out yet, for Louisa, closely pressed by Luke, had only just
made up her mind half an hour ago about the date. Strangely enough she
had been in no hurry for the wedding day to come. Luke had been so
anxious, so crestfallen when she put him off with vague promises, that
she herself could not account for this strange reticence within
her--so unworthy a level-headed, conventional woman of the world.

But the outer lobby of the fairy universe was surpassingly beautiful,
and though the golden gates to the inner halls beyond were ajar and
would yield to the slightest pressure of Louisa's slender fingers, yet
she was glad to tarry awhile longer. Were they not hand in hand? What
mattered waiting since eternity called beyond those golden gates?

This morning, however, convention--still voiced by Lady Ryder--was
more vigorous than was consistent with outward peace. Louisa, worried
by aunt, and with the memory of Luke's expression of misery and
disappointment when last night she had again refused to fix the
wedding day, chided herself for her silly fancies, and at eleven
o'clock set out for a stroll in Battersea Park, her mind made up, her
unwonted fit of sentimentality smothered by the louder voice of
common-sense.

She and Luke always took their walks abroad in Battersea Park. In the
morning hours they were free there from perpetual meetings with
undesired company--all outside company being undesirable in the lobby
of the fairy universe. Louisa had promised to meet Luke in the
tropical garden at half-past eleven. She was always punctual, and he
always before his time; she smart and businesslike in her neat,
tailor-made gown and close hat which defied wind and rain, he always a
little shamefaced when he took her neatly gloved hand in his, as most
English young men are apt to be when sentiment for the first time
happens to overmaster them.

To-day she saw him coming toward her just the same as on other days.
He walked just as briskly and held himself as erect as he always did,
but the moment that he was near enough for her to see his face she
knew that there was something very wrong in the world and with him.
Some one from the world of eternity beyond had seen fit to push the
golden