\"Goon，AuntJanet。\"
Shedidnotseemtorecognizeconsciouslythelikenessbetweenpastandpresent；buttheeffectwasthere，forshewentonmorelikeheroldself，thoughtherewasapropheticgravityinhervoice，moremarkedthanIhadeverheardfromher：
\"AllthisI’vetoldyewaswell；but，oh，laddie，therewasadreadfullacko’livin’joysuchasIshouldexpectfromthewomanwhommyboyhadchosenforhiswife——andatthemarriagecoupling，too！Andnowonder，whenallissaid；forthoughthemarriageveilo’lovewasfine，an’thegarlando’flowerswasfresh—gathered，underneaththema’wasnaneitherthanaghastlyshroud。AsIlookedinmyveesion——ormaybedream——Iexpectittoseethewormscrawlroundtheflagstaneatherfeet。If’twasnotDeath，laddiedear，thatstoodbyye，itwastheshadowo’Deaththatmadethedarknessroundye，thatneitherthelighto’candlesnorthesmokeo’heathenincensecouldpierce。Oh，laddie，laddie，waeismethatIhaeseensicaveesion——wakingorsleeping，itmattersnot！Iwassairdistressed——sosairthatIwokewi’ashriekonmylipsandbathedincoldsweat。Iwouldhaecomedoontoyetoseeifyouwereheartyorno——oreventolistenatyourdoorforanysoundo’yerbeingquick，butthatIfearedtoalarmyetillmornshouldcome。I’vecountedthehoursandtheminutessincemidnight，whenIsawtheveesion，tillIcamehitherjustthenow。\"
\"Quiteright，AuntJanet，\"Isaid，\"andIthankyouforyourkindthoughtformeinthematter，nowandalways。\"ThenIwenton，forI
wantedtotakeprecautionsagainstthepossibilityofherdiscoveryofmysecret。Icouldnotbeartothinkthatshemightrunmyprecioussecrettoearthinanywell—meantpieceofbungling。Thatwouldbetomedisasterunbearable。Shemightfrightenawayaltogethermybeautifulvisitor，evenwhosenameororiginIdidnotknow，andImightneverseeheragain：