“‘Be off,’ he commanded angrily, and he pointed to the gate.

“She did not cease smiling nor turn away, but came straight on.

“The little dried heart in the old man’s breast began to bounce about at a great rate in his anger.  He turned to a servant who stood near holding in leash two great hounds.

“‘Set the dogs on her,’ he commanded; and though the servant was loath to obey, he dared not refuse, and set free the dogs who, at the master’s word, bounded swiftly toward the child.

“Her loving look did not alter as she saw them coming and she held out her hands to them.  When they reached her they licked the little hands with their tongues and bent their great heads to her caresses, and so she advanced to the man, walking between the hounds, a hand on the neck of each.

“He stared at her dumfounded as she stood before him, her eyes smiling up into his.  Her garments were white and of a strange fashion.

“‘From whence come you?’ he asked, when he could speak.

“‘From the Heavenly Country,’ she answered.

“‘And what may be your name?’

“‘Purity.’

“‘I ordered you out of my grounds!’ exclaimed the old man.

“‘I did not hear it,’ returned the child, unmoved.

“‘Don’t you fear the dogs?’

“‘What is fear?’ asked Purity, her eyes wondering.

“‘This is the land of Vain Regret,’ said the man.  ‘Be off!’

“‘This is a beautiful land,’ returned the child.

“For a moment her fearless obstinacy held him silent, then he thought he would voice the question that was always with him.

“‘Have you ever heard, in your country, of the Castle of True Delight?’ he asked.

“‘Often,’ replied the child.

“‘I wish to go there,’ he declared eagerly.

“‘Then why not?’ returned Purity.

“‘I cannot find the way.’

“‘That is a pity,’ said the child.  ‘It is in my country.’

“‘And you have seen it?’

“‘Oh, many times.’

“‘Then you shall show me the way.’

“‘Whenever you are ready,’ returned Purity.  So saying, she passed him, still accompanied by the hounds, and walked up the steps of the castle and passed within and out of sight.”

* * * * *

The story-teller paused.  Jewel had risen from her seat on the floor and come to sit on a wicker hassock at his feet, and Topaz rapped with his tail as she moved.

“I wish you’d been there, grandpa, to take care of that little girl,” she said earnestly, her eyes fixed on his.  “What happened next?”

“Ask your father,” was the response.

Harry Evringham rolled over in the hammock where he lay stretched, until he could see his daughter’s face.  She rose again and pulled her hassock close to him as he continued:—­

“As Purity passed into the house, the dogs whined, and the servant calling them, they ran back to him.  The old man stood still, bewildered, for a minute; then he struck his hands together.