Strange，ifthelittlesick-roomfirewereineffectabeaconfire，summoningsomeone，andthatthemostunlikelysomeoneintheworld，tothespotthatMUSTbecometo。Strange，ifthelittlesick-roomlightwereineffectawatch-light，burninginthatplaceeverynightuntilanappointedeventshouldbewatchedout!Whichofthevastmultitudeoftravellers，underthesunandthestars，climbingthedustyhillsandtoilingalongthewearyplains，journeyingbylandandjourneyingbysea，comingandgoingsostrangely，tomeetandtoactandreactononeanother；whichofthehostmay，withnosuspicionofthejourney’send，betravellingsurelyhither？
Timeshallshowus。Thepostofhonourandthepostofshame，thegeneral’sstationandthedrummer’s，apeer’sstatueinWestminsterAbbeyandaseaman’shammockinthebosomofthedeep，themitreandtheworkhouse，thewoolsackandthegallows，thethroneandtheguillotine——thetravellerstoallareonthegreathighroad，butithaswonderfuldivergencies，andonlyTimeshallshowuswhithereachtravellerisbound。
Onawintryafternoonattwilight，MrsFlintwinch，havingbeenheavyallday，dreamedthisdream：
Shethoughtshewasinthekitchengettingthekettlereadyfortea，andwaswarmingherselfwithherfeetuponthefenderandtheskirtofhergowntuckedup，beforethecollapsedfireinthemiddleofthegrate，borderedoneitherhandbyadeepcoldblackravine。Shethoughtthatasshesatthus，musinguponthequestionwhetherlifewasnotforsomepeoplearatherdullinvention，shewasfrightenedbyasuddennoisebehindher。Shethoughtthatshehadbeensimilarlyfrightenedoncelastweek，andthatthenoisewasofamysteriouskind——asoundofrustlingandofthreeorfourquickbeatslikearapidstep；whileashockortremblewascommunicatedtoherheart，asifthestephadshakenthefloor，orevenasifshehadbeentouchedbysomeawfulhand。Shethoughtthatthisrevivedwithinhercertainoldfearsofhersthatthehousewashaunted；andthatsheflewupthekitchenstairswithoutknowinghowshegotup，tobenearercompany。
MistressAfferythoughtthatonreachingthehall，shesawthedoorofherliegelord’sofficestandingopen，andtheroomempty。Thatshewenttotheripped-upwindowinthelittleroombythestreetdoortoconnectherpalpitatingheart，throughtheglass，withlivingthingsbeyondandoutsidethehauntedhouse。Thatshethensaw，onthewalloverthegateway，theshadowsofthetwocleveronesinconversationabove。Thatshethenwentupstairswithhershoesinherhand，partlytobenearthecleveronesasamatchformostghosts，andpartlytohearwhattheyweretalkingabout。