"AS IN A MIRROR" Ronnie returned to the Florentine chair, took the 'cello between his knees, placed his thumb behind its polished neck and his fingers on the ebony finger-board.

He let them glide lightly up and down the strings, making no sound.

Then he raised the bow in his right hand, and slowly, softly, sounded the four open notes.
Each tone was deep and true; there was no rasp--no uneven scraping of the bow.
The log-fire burned up brightly.
He waited.

A great expectation filled him.
He was remembering something he had long forgotten.
Looking straight before him at his own reflection in the mirror, he smiled to see how correctly he held the 'cello.

The Infant seemed at home between his knees.
The sight of himself and the Infant thus waiting together, gave him peculiar pleasure.
The fire burned low.
His reflected figure dimmed and faded.