"A youngish man ?" "No, old," says Perpetua, "at least I think--do you know," laughing, "when he's _gone_ I sometimes think of him as being pretty young, but when he is _with_ me, he is old--old and grave!" "As a guardian should be, with such a pretty ward," says Mrs.Constans, smiling.

"His back looks young, however." "And his laugh _sounds_ young." "Ah! he can laugh then ?" "Very seldom.

Too seldom.

But when he does, it is a nice laugh.

But he wears spectacles, you know--and--well--oh, yes, he _is_ old, distinctly old!".