296 SYLVIE AND BRUNO

duty as a nose and a mouth. Gradually, however, the con- viction came upon me that I could, by a certain concentra- tion of thought, thin the veil away, and so get a glimpse of the mysterious face — as to which the two questions, "is she pretty?" and "is she plain?", still hung suspended, in my mind, in beautiful equipoise. Success was partial — and fitful — still there was a result : ever and anon, the veil seemed to vanish, in a sudden flash of light : but, before I could fully realise the face, all was dark again. In each such glimpse, the face seemed to grow more childish and more innocent : and, when I had at last thought the veil entirely away, it was, unmistakeably, the sweet face of little Sylvie! "So, either I've been dreaming about Sylvie," I said to myself, "and this is the reality. Or else Fve really been with Sylvie, and this is a dream! Is Life itself a dream, I wonder?" To occupy the time, I got out the letter which had caused me to take this sudden railway-journey from my London home down to a strange fishing-town on the North coast, and read it over again : — "Dear old Friend, Vm sure it will be as great a pleasure to me, as it can possibly be to you, to meet once more after so many years: and of course I shall be ready to give you all the benefit of such medical sJ{ill as I have: only, you /{now, one mustn't violate professional etiquette! And you are already in the hands of a first-rate London doctor, with whom it would be utter affectation for me to pretend to compete, (/ mae no doubt he is right in saying the heart is affected: all your symptoms point that way.) One thing, at any rate, I have al- ready done in my doctorial capacity — secured you a bedroom on the ground'fioor , so that you will not need to ascend the stairs at all.

• 'l shall expect you by last train on Friday, in accordance