He muttered to himself with half-closed eyes: "Tomorrow smooth the cogs--tighten the screws a little--show it to them." Then after a pause--"Over the whole world--the whole world--mine, that I have made!" He pressed the little wheels and pulleys in his pocket till they cracked.

Presently his muttering became louder--"And fifty pounds--a black hat for my dadda--for Lyndall a blue silk, very light; and one purple like the earth-bells, and white shoes." He muttered on--"A box full, full of books.

They shall tell me all, all, all," he added, moving his fingers desiringly: "why the crystals grow in such beautiful shapes; why lightning runs to the iron; why black people are black; why the sunlight makes things warm.

I shall read, read, read," he muttered slowly.

Then came over him suddenly what he called "The presence of God"; a sense of a good, strong something folding him round.