"Jane，Jane," said he，stopping before me，"you are quite pale with your vigils: don"t you curse me for disturbing your rest?"

"Curse you? No，sir."

"Shake hands in confirmation of the word. What cold fingers! They were warmer last night when I touched them at the door of the mysterious chamber. Jane，when will you watch with me again?"

"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."