A tender voice put forth an unexpected question:—
"Are you sure that there is not some one with you?"
"Is not that a strange question?"
"Ah yes, but in the old story when St. Nicholas arrived, an angel came with him: are you right sure there's not an angel in the room with you now?"
"I certainly see no angel, though I think I hear the voice of one! Do you see any angel?"
"With my mind's eye."
"That must be the very best eye with which to see an angel!"
"But if there were a light in the room—!"
"Pardon me! If there were a light, I might not be here myself. If you changed the world at all, you would change it altogether."
A bolder voice broke in:—