ain？”

“Whenever　I　can　be　useful；　sir。”

“For　instance；　the　night　before　I　am　married！　I　am　sure　I　shall　not　be　able　to　sleep。　Will　you　promise　to　sit　up　with　me　to　bear　me　pany？　To　you　I　can　talk　of　my　lovely　one：　for　now　you　have　seen　her　and　know　her。”

“Yes；　sir。”

“She’s　a　rare　one；　is　she　not；　Jane？”

“Yes；　sir。”

“A　strapper—a　real　strapper；　Jane：　big；　brown；　and　buxom；　with　hair　just　such　as　the　ladies　of　Carthage　must　have　had。　Bless　me！　there’s　Dent　and　Lynn　in　the　stables！　Go　in　by　the　shrubbery；　through　that　wicket。”

As　I　went　one　way；　he　went　another；　and　I　heard　him　in　the　yard；　saying　cheerfully—

“Mason　got　the　start　of　you　all　this　morning；　he　was　gone　before　sunrise：　I　rose　at　four　to　see　him　off。”

Chapter　21

Presentiments　are　strange　things！　and　so　are　sympathies；　and　so　are　signs；　and　the　three　bined　make　one　mystery　to　which　humanity　has　not　yet　found　the　key。　I　never　laughed　at　presentiments　in　my　life；　because　I　have　had　strange　ones　of　my　own。　Sympathies；　I　believe；　exist　（for　instance；　bet