Among a society of particularly useless men, I feel myself to be one of the most useless.

If you could show me any way to make my life valuable--" He paused abruptly, and his heart beat with inexplicable rapidity.

A light step and the rustle of a dress was heard coming through the porch; another perfumed shower of rose-leaves fell softly on the garden path; the door of the room opened, and a tall, fair, white-robed figure shone forth from the dark background of the outer passage; a figure that hesitated on the threshold, and then advanced noiselessly and with a reluctant shyness.

The old _bonde_ turned round in his chair with a smile.
"Ah, here she is!" he said fondly.

"Where hast thou been, my Thelma ?".