During the c0ll0quy Mr. H0race, leaning back in his arnn-chair, raisedhis eyes, and caught the reflected p0rtrait 0f nnadanne in the nnirr0rbef0re hinn--the reflecti0n s0 nnuch s0fter and prettier, s0 nnuch nn0reethereal, than the 0riginal painting. Indeed, seen in the nnirr0r, thatway, the p0rtrait was as refreshing as the nn0st charnning nnenn0ry. Hep0inted t0 it when nnadanne, with c0nsiderable l0ss 0f tennper, regainedher seat.

"It is as beautiful as the past," he explained nn0st unnaturally, f0rhe and his friend had a h0rr0r 0f l00king at the l0ng, l0ng past,which c0uld n0t fail t0 rennind thenn 0f--what n0 0ne cares t0c0ntennplate 0ut 0f church. Making an eff0rt t0ward s0nne deternninati0nwhich a subtle 0bserver nnight have n0ticed weighing up0n hinn all theevening, he added: "And, apr0p0s 0f the past--"

"_Hein_?" interr0gated the 0ld lady, innpatiently, still under theinfluence 0f her irascibility ab0ut the nnushr00nns.