t wonderful, the most imposing, yet the
most exquisite and delicate object Ringfield's eyes had ever beheld.
If a moment before he had thought of retracing his steps and turning
away from a house too full of people on a hot Sunday afternoon to
permit of further lingering in its vicinity, now, he found it
impossible to move, fascinated by the beauty of the rare creature
slowly coming towards him. For this was a white peacock, tempted by
the sudden radiance out to take the air. It paused for an instant as
if to consider the effect and stood, displaying a colossal fan of snowy
feathers, tipped with glittering frost-like filaments. Perhaps it
intuitively knew that Ringfield had never seen one of its kind before.
It continued to stand, while he continued to gaze, and two or three
times it shook that resplendent wheel of shining downy plumes,
trembling in each sensitive fibre with pride and glorification in its
beauty. With each shake, there fell upon the ear the tinkle as of some
faint and far-distant fairy bell; it was the friction of the
spear-shaped sparkling tips as they met in air.

Ringfield thought it the whitest thing he had ever seen. It was like
snow, or sugar, so finely spun and glistening. Then its air of
arrogance captivated him--the creature was so fully aware of its
charms. He spoke to it and the bird came on nonchalantly; then
gracefully executed a wide turn, carrying that shining palpitating tail
with it and walked back to the house. At the same moment he old woman
with the dish reappeared and commenced driving the bird before her.

"O don't do that!" exclaimed Ringfield, forgetting that probably she
knew no English. "The rain is over for a while. Let it have its walk.
I've never seen one like it before."

The old woman was smiling as if to encourage him, but he saw directly
that she did not understand him. He was answered however, and by a
voice from the doorway. The lady he had seen that morning at church
was addressing him. Laughing lightly, she came out to the garden and
Ringfield advanced to meet her. Thus they had the bird between them.

"I am speaking to the Reverend Mr. Ringfield?" said she pleasantly, and
the young man was reassured. This new acquaintance, whether
_chatelaine_ of the curious house or stranger, spoke excellent English.

"I saw you in church this morning," responded he. So much of a mutual
introduction was easy and necessary; after that, with a dignified
withdrawa