Although she had told me that the house was in the country, my mind flew at once to Wilderspin’s studio.  ’You say that the gentleman was not young, but that he had an expression of sorrow in his eyes.  Had he long iron-grey hair, and was he dressed—­dressed, like a—­like a shiny Quaker?’ So full was my mind of Mrs. Gudgeon’s story that I was positively using her language.

‘Like a what?’ exclaimed Winnie.  ’Really, Henry, you have become very eccentric since our parting.  The gentleman had not iron-grey hair, and he was not dressed in the least like a Quaker, unless a loose, brown lounge coat tossed on anyhow over a waistcoat and trousers of the same colour is the costume of a shiny Quaker.  But it was the room you asked me to describe.  There were pictures on the walls, and there were two easels, and on one of them I saw a picture.  The gentleman led me to a strange and very beautiful piece of furniture.  If I attempted to describe it I should call it a divan, under a gorgeous kind of awning ornamented with Chinese figures in ivory and precious stones.  Now, isn’t it exactly like an Arabian Nights story, Henry?’

‘Yes, yes, Winnie; but pray go on.  What did the gentleman do?’

’He drew a chair towards me, and without speaking looked into my face again.  The expression in his eyes drew me towards him, as it had at first done when I awoke from my trance; it drew me towards him partly because it said, “I am lonely and in sorrow,” and partly from another cause which I could not understand and could never define, howsoever I might try.  “Where am I?” I said; “I remember nothing since I fell on the sands.  Where is Henry?  Is he better or worse?  Can you tell me?” The gentleman said, “The friend you inquire about is a long way from here, and you are a long way from Raxton.”  I asked him why I was a long way from Raxton, and said, “Who brought me here?  Do, please, tell me what it means.  I am amongst friends—­of that I am sure; there is something in your voice which assures me of that; but do tell me what this mystery means.”  “You are indeed among friends,” he said.  Then looking at me with an expression of great kindness, he continued, “It would be difficult to imagine where you could go without finding friends, Miss Wynne."’

‘Then he knew who you were, Winnie?’ I said.

‘Yes, he knew who I was,’ said she, looking meditatively across the hills as though my query had raised in her own mind some question which had newly presented itself.  ’The gentleman told me that I had been very ill and was now recovered, but not so entirely recovered at present that I could with safety be burthened and perplexed with the long story of my illness and what had brought me there.  And when he concluded by saying, “You are here for your good,” I exclaimed, “Ah, yes; no need for me to be told that,” for his voice convinced me that it was so.  “But surely you can tell me something.  Where is Henry?  Is he still ill?” I said.  He told me that he believed you to be perfectly well, and that you had lately been living in Wales, but had now gone to Japan.  “Henry lately in Wales! now gone to Japan!” I exclaimed, “and he was not with me during the illness that you say I have just recovered from?"’