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was to describe her as having been one of my fellow servants during
the time I was employed under my kind master and mistress in
London。 There was no fear now of my mother taking any harm from
the shock of a great surprise。 Her health had improved during the
three weeks' interval。 On the first evening when she was able to
take her old place at tea time； I summoned my courage； and told her
I was going to be married。 The poor soul flung her arms round my
neck； and burst out crying for joy。 〃Oh； Francis！〃 she says； 〃I am
so glad you will have somebody to comfort you and care for you when
I am gone！〃 As for my aunt Chance； you can anticipate what SHE
did； without being told。 Ah； me！ If there had really been any
prophetic virtue in the cards； what a terrible warning they might
have given us that night！ It was arranged that I was to bring my
promised wife to dinner at the cottage on the next day。
X
I own I was proud of Alicia when I led her into our little parlor
at the appointed time。 She had never； to my mind； looked so
beautiful as she looked that day。 I never noticed any other
woman's dressI noticed hers as carefully as if I had been a woman
myself！ She wore a black silk gown； with plain collar and cuffs；
and a modest lavender…colored bonnet； with one white rose in it
placed at the side。 My mother； dressed in her Sunday best； rose
up； all in a flutter； to welcome her daughter…in…law that was to
be。 She walked forward a few steps； half smiling； half in tears
she looked Alicia full in the faceand suddenly stood still。 Her
cheeks turned white in an instant； her eyes stared in horror； her
hands dropped helplessly at her sides。 She staggered back； and
fell into the arms of my aunt； standing behind her。 It was no
swoonshe kept her senses。 Her eyes turned slowly from Alicia to
me。 〃Francis；〃 she said； 〃does that woman's face remind you of
nothing？〃
Before I could answer； she pointed to her writing…desk on the table
at the fireside。 〃Bring it！〃 she cried； 〃bring it！〃
At the same moment I felt Alicia's hand on my shoulder； and saw
Alicia's face red with angerand no wonder！
〃What does this mean？〃 she asked。 〃Does your mother want to insult
me？〃
I said a few words to quiet her； what they were I don't rememberI
was so confused and astonished at the time。 Before I had done； I
heard my mother behind me。
My aunt had fetched her desk。 She had opened it； she had taken a
paper from it。 Step by step； helping herself along by the wall；
she came nearer and nearer； with the paper in her hand。 She looked
at the papershe looked in Alicia's faceshe lifted the long；
loose sleeve of her gown； and examined her hand and arm。 I saw
fear suddenly take the place of anger in Alicia's eyes。 She shook
herself free of my mother's grasp。 〃Mad！〃 she said to herself；
〃and Francis never told me！〃 With those words she ran out of the
room。
I was hastening out after her； when my mother signed to me to stop。
She read the words written on the paper。 While they fell slowly；
one by one； from her lips； she pointed toward the open door。
〃Light gray eyes； with a droop in the left eyelid。 Flaxen hair；
with a gold…yellow streak in it。 White arms； with a down upon
them。 Little； lady's hand； with a rosy…red look about the finger
nails。 The Dream Woman； Francis！ The Dream Woman！〃
Something darkened the parlor window as those words were spoken。 I
looked sidelong at the shadow。 Alicia Warlock had come back！ She
was peering in at us over the low window blind。 There was the
fatal face which had first looked at me in the bedroom of the
lonely inn。 There； resting on the window blind； was the lovely
little hand which had held the murderous knife。 I HAD seen her
before we met in the village。 The Dream Woman！ The Dream Woman！
XI
I expect nobody to approve of what I have next to tell of myself。
In three weeks from the day when my mother had identified her with
the Woman of the Dream； I took Alicia Warlock to church； and made
her my wife。 I was a man bewitched。 Again and again I say itI
was a man bewitched！
During the interval before my marriage； our little household at the
cottage was broken up。 My mother and my aunt quarreled。 My
mother； believing in the Dream； entreated me to break off my
engagement。 My aunt； believing in the cards； urged me to marry。
This difference of opinion produced a dispute between them； in the
course of which my aunt Chancequite unconscious of having any
superstitious feelings of her ownactually set out the cards which
prophesied happiness to me in my married life； and asked my mother
how anybody but 〃a blinded heathen could be fule enough； after
seeing those cairds； to believe in a dream！〃 This was； naturally；
too much for my mother's patience； hard words followed on either
side； Mrs。 Chance returned in dudgeon to her friends in Scotland。
She left me a written statement of my future prospects； as revealed
by the cards； and with it an address at which a post…office order
would reach her。 〃The day was not that far off；〃 she remarked；
〃when Francie might remember what he owed to his aunt Chance；
maintaining her ain unbleemished widowhood on thratty punds a
year。〃
Having refused to give her sanction to my marriage； my mother also
refused to be present at the wedding； or to visit Alicia
afterwards。 There was no anger at the bottom of this conduct on
her part。 Believing as she did in this Dream； she was simply in
mortal fear of my wife。 I understood this； and I made allowances
for her。 Not a cross word passed between us。 My one happy
remembrance nowthough I did disobey her in the matter of my
marriageis this： I loved and respected my good mother to the
last。
As for my wife； she expressed no regret at the estrangement between
her mother…in…law and herself。 By common consent； we never spoke
on that subject。 We settled in the manufacturing town which I have
already mentioned； and we kept a lodging…house。 My kind master； at
my request； granted me a lump sum in place of my annuity。 This put
us into a good house； decently furnished。 For a while things went
well enough。 I may describe myself at this time of my life as a
happy man。
My misfortunes began with a return of the complaint with which my
mother had already suffered。 The doctor confessed； when I asked
him the question； that there was danger to be dreaded this time。
Naturally； after hearing this； I was a good deal away at the
cottage。 Naturally also； I left the business of looking after the
house； in my absence； to my wife。 Little by little； I found her
beginning to alter toward me。 While my back was turned； she formed
acquaintances with people of the doubtful and dissipated sort。 One
day； I observed something in her manner which forced the suspicion
on me that she had been drinking。 Before the week was out； my
suspicion was a certainty。 Fr