In fancy I imagined myself again in view of the glory of the Electric Ring--again I seemed to behold the opaline radiance of the Central Sphere: "Where Love's a grown-up God, Where the Houri glances are Imbued with all the beauty Which we worship in a star." By-and-by I found my fingers at the work of tenderly unravelling a little skein of major melody, as soft and childlike as the innocent babble of a small brooklet flowing under ferns.

I followed this airy suggestion obediently, till it led me of itself to its fitting end, when I ceased playing.

I was greeted by a little burst of applause, and looking up, saw that all the gentlemen had come in from the dining-room, and were standing near me.

The stately figure of Heliobas was the most prominent in the group; he stood erect, one hand resting lightly on the framework of the piano, and his eyes met mine fixedly.
"You were inspired," he said with a grave smile, addressing me; "you did not observe our entrance." I was about to reply, when a loud, appalling crash of thunder rattled above us, as if some huge building had suddenly fallen into ruins.

It startled us all into silence for a moment, and we looked into each other's faces with a certain degree of awe.
"That was a good one," remarked Mr.Challoner.