Page:Burnett - Two Little Pilgrims' Progress A Story of the City Beautiful.djvu/177

Rh for him. As he had wandered about he had told himself that he had been mad to come and see it all, so alone. Sometimes he turned away from the crowd and sat in some quiet corner of palace or fairy garden—and it was because he was forced to do it, for it was at times when he was in no condition to be looked at by careless passers-by.

He had never been particularly fond of children; but somehow these two waifs, with their alert faces and odd independence, had wakened his interest. He was conscious of rather wanting to know where they had come from and what they would do next. The bit of the story of the Genie of the Palace of the Sea had attracted him. He had learned to love stories from the one who should have seen with him the Enchanted City. She had been a story-lover and full of fancies.

He followed the trio to the end of the great court. When they reached there, three pairs of cheeks were flushed, and the eyes that were open were glowing. Meg and Robin chose a spot of ground and stopped.

"Now," said Meg, "open them—suddenly!"

The boy opened them. The man saw the look that flashed into his face. It was a strange, quivering look, Palaces which seemed of pure marble surrounded him. He had never even dreamed of palaces. White