The tall man who had been Jack’s companion rose from the table, and came forward with a jolly bow and smile. Miriam recognized Sam Paladin.
“I’m very glad to see you home again, Miss Mayne,” he said, grasping her hand. “I used to fancy I’d done some trotting about, but I shall sit at your feet henceforth. As for that boy Jack, he deserves less credit. Who wouldn’t do as much for such an object?”
“Sure and I’d have gone meself, if they’d let me,” said Terence Mayne.
Jenny brought the tea, curtsying happily to her mistress and looking more natural than ever.
After some chat about some business and politics, chiefly between Terence and Sam, Mary Faust suddenly excused herself and went out. She returned after a few minutes.
“I have had a message from our friends,” she said, addressing Miriam and Jack more especially, and with as much simplicity as if the message were from down-town. “Lamara and the judges have conferred, and she wishes you to know the result. Will you follow me—all of you?”
They got up, and she led them to a part of the laboratory partitioned off from the main room, and fitted up somewhat after the manner of an oratory. Neither the lovers nor the other two had any notion of what was to happen.
There was an oval window looking to the south and east, through which the rays of the planet Saturn fell and rested upon a couch, draped with a robe of white samite, bordered with blue. Mary Faust, with a reverent gesture, turned back this coverlet, and the body of Jim was revealed, with his crutch beside him. There was no other illumination in the place than what proceeded from the planet: but as the eyes of the spectators grew accustomed to the dimness, the face of the little gnome was distinctly visible. There was a trace of the good-humored grin on his lips, with which he had met all the vagaries of fortune; but also an innocent lovableness which his indomitable spirit had disguised during his earthly life. All gazed upon this spectacle with affectionate sympathy.
“Lamara told me,” said Mary Faust, breaking the silence, “that the highest honor among Saturnians is indicated by a halo, symbolizing the perfect love that has no thought of self. It is bestowed by the ruler of the planet, sitting in counsel with the wisest of the realm; but the gift does not come from them, but from the Source of life and love, who communicates it to them as almoners. And she asked me to bring you here for witness.”
As they stood about the couch, Miriam’s hand in Jack’s, Sam and Terence gravely attentive, the faint, diffused light gathered more definitely upon the dead urchin’s head. At length it seemed as if the light emanated therefrom, rather than from the distant globe. Still it brightened, and now assumed the form of a ring of purest radiance, shining above his forehead; if a circle of pearls could be fire, they would appear thus. It was visible for several minutes; and whether it then vanished, or whether the eyes of the onlookers were unable any longer to discern it, was doubtful. Perhaps it was a thing which only persons of good will and pure heats could have seen at all.