Part 7

"He has obeyed you. I am named the Windflower; but, sir, you too have a beautiful title; they call you the Prince of Pity. Who are you?"

"I am an unworthy follower of the man Christ."

"You are then a Christian?"

"I said the _man_ Christ. I belong to no Church. I profess no creed."

"What do you do?"

"My child," he said, and his voice sounded sorrowful like the sobbing of the sea, "my life's work is all in these simple lines,--

"'Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.'"

"You are then he whom I seek. You are Terah, the breather of good. But, sir, you seem ill. Can I help you?"

"Yes, care for my poor. Be to them all the Wind is to you; rock them into life, soothe them into death; sob with them in grief, shout with them in joy. I am going away."

"Whither?"

"To the earth, to rest and peace at last."

"Not to heaven?"

"My child, have you lived in the great city and not learned that we can imagine no heaven so lovely as the joy of our hearts when we do a good action? I am on the verge of that sleep which knows no awakening. The Halls of Death lead not unto Life."

Mercy was dazed with the beauty of the man's soul. It filled his eyes with a radiance which overwhelmed her.

"I have found Terah," she cried, looking heavenwards, and clasping her hands in an ecstasy of happiness. "The world is bright again. My ideal is true. Beautiful, merciful; and self an immolated sacrifice. Why have I lost my youth in seeking him to lose him now?"

A distant voice seemed to float on the wind. "Had he lived you must have died. The good action has its reward here and hereafter. He has passed through the Halls of Death unto the House of Life. Be content, you have been much blessed. The Ideal is realised in heaven."

The room was filled with a perfume as of many flowers. The wind sobbed out a requiem. Lady Mercy's face shone with a great light. She looked down. The Prince of Pity lay dead.

On the site of Greenleaf Court a beautiful house now stands, every window full of flowers. Designed by a great architect, all the poor of the district were employed to help in its erection. It is called the "House of Pity." In the large hall, where the hungry are fed and the sorrowful are comforted, the following inscription is wrought on the wall in letters of gold, wreathed with windflowers:--

_SECOND EDITION._

THE GOLDEN FAIRY BOOK.

FAIRY TALES OF OTHER LANDS.

BY

GEORGE SAND, MORITZ JOKAI, ALEXANDRE DUMAS, VOLTAIRE, DANIEL DARE, XAVIER MARMIER, Etc., Etc.

_In crown 4to, richly gilt, and gilt edges, 6s._

With 110 Illustrations by H. R. Millar.

A FEW PRESS OPINIONS.

"'The Golden Fairy Book' is brimful of charm, and must be cordially welcomed. The book is one to be bought. It is rarely that fairy stories by such important authors come together. Young people are to be congratulated upon the provision of such a boon companion as 'The Golden Fairy Book,' to which Mr. H. R. Millar has contributed over one hundred artistic and amusing illustrations."--_Gentlewoman._

"An excellent collection of charming tales by famous authors. The volume is prettily bound, and excellently printed, with a profusion of illustrations."--_Times._

"'The Golden Fairy Book' need not be considered inferior to any. In appearance it is possibly ahead of all. Mr. Millar's illustrations are spirited and clever, and the tales in themselves have been selected with great judgment from writers of all countries. If any find the old tales at all tiresome, let them take this 'Golden Book' in preference."--_Daily Graphic._

"A new and delightful departure ... this most attractive gift-book, which one may safely prophesy will be a sure delight to its many possessors."--_St. James' Budget._

"'The Golden Fairy Book' is as good as can be, and the illustrations are refined and attractive. The stories are gathered from many nations--a particular charm to this excellent collection."--_Westminster Gazette._

"Not only the little folk, but we 'children of a larger growth' will also be delighted with this collection of wondrous fairy tales. The book is beautifully illustrated."--_The Lady._

"Among the prettiest books of the season is 'The Golden Fairy Book.' Admirably illustrated, this volume is pleasing within and without."--_Globe._

"Boundless variety and that of the best.... 'The Golden Fairy Book' is well calculated to charm and satisfy the most omnivorous youthful appetite for imagined wonders."--_Sketch._

London: HUTCHINSON & CO., 34, Paternoster Row.

With over 60 Full-page and other Illustrations by Harry Furniss and Dorothy Furniss.

THE WALLYPUG OF WHY. A Fanciful Story.

By G. E. FARROW.

_In crown 4to, handsomely bound in cloth gilt, and gilt edges, 5s._

Contents.

The Way to Why. The Fish with a Cold. Breakfast for Tea. Girlie Sees the Wallypug. What is a Goo? The Wallypug's fancy Dinner Party. The Invisible Joke. Can a Pig Perch? Buying an Excuse. The Ride with the Alphabet. Girlie is Cartwrecked. The Sphinx and the Bathing-Machine Woman. What Happened at Why.

* * * * *

With 84 Illustrations by H. R. Millar.

THE SILVER FAIRY BOOK. Fairy Tales of Other Lands.

BY

SARAH BERNHARDT, E. P. LARKEN, HORACE MURREIGH, HEGESIPPE MOREAU, VOLTAIRE, QUATRELLES, EMILE DE GIRARDEN, WILHELM HAUF, XAVIER MARMIER, LOUIS DE GRAMONT, Etc.

_In crown 4to, silvered cloth and silvered edges, 6s._

London: HUTCHINSON & CO., 34, Paternoster Row.

The Boys' Golden Library.

Each Volume in crown 8vo, handsome cloth gilt binding, bevelled boards and gilt edges, with Illustrations on Plate Paper, 3_s._ 6_d._ per Volume.

_By PROFESSOR CHURCH._ Pictures from Greek Life and Story. Pictures from Roman Life and Story.

_By DANIEL DE FOE._ Robinson Crusoe.

_By EDWARD A. RAND._ Our Clerk from Barkton. Fighting the Sea. Up North in a Whaler. Making the Best of It.

_By DR. GORDON STABLES, R.N._ The Cruise of the Crystal Boat.

_By FLORENCE MARRYAT._ The Little Marine.

_By W. H. DAVENPORT ADAMS._ The Warriors of the Crescent.

_By JULES VERNE._ Round the World in Eighty Days, and Adventures in Southern Africa. (Double Volume.) Five Weeks in a Balloon, and A Journey to the Centre of the Earth. (Double Volume.) The English at the North Pole, and The Desert of Ice. (Double Volume.)

London: HUTCHINSON & CO., 34 Paternoster Row.

New Library for Girls.

THE GIRLS' GOLDEN LIBRARY.

Each Volume in crown 8vo, handsome cloth gilt binding, bevelled boards and gilt edges, with Illustrations on Plate Paper, 3_s._ 6_d._ per Volume.

_By SARAH TYTLER._ A Bubble Fortune.

_By AMELIA E. BARR._ A Singer from the Sea. Love for an Hour is Love for Ever.

_By E. WETHERELL._ The Wide, Wide World.

_By E. S. CUMMINS._ The Lamplighter.

_By S. DOUDNEY._ Where Two Ways Meet. The Family Difficulty. A Child of the Precinct.

_By MRS. J. KENT SPENDER._ No Humdrum Life for Me.

_By ANNA E. LISLE._ Winnie Travers. Self and Self-Sacrifice.

_By W. H. DAVENPORT ADAMS._ The Maid of Orleans.

_By M. C. HALIFAX._ Among the Welsh Hills.

_By MARGARET HAYCRAFT._ The Clever Miss Jancy.

_By MRS. G. LINNAEUS BANKS._ Miss Pringle's Pearls.

_By EVELYN EVERETT GREEN._ My Cousin from Australia.

_By LOUISA M. ALCOTT._ Little Women and Nice Wives.

London: HUTCHINSON & CO., 34 Paternoster Row.