But there come visions in sleep, sometimes, that are permitted as warnings, and truly represent things existing in real life." "I do not understand you, mother." "There is in the human mind a quality represented by the serpent, and also a quality represented by the dove.

When our Saviour said of Herod, 'Go tell that fox,' he meant to designate the man as having the quality of a fox." "But how does this apply to dreams ?" asked Fanny.
"He who sends his angels to watch over and protect us in sleep, may permit them to bring before us, in dreaming images, the embodied form of some predominating quality in those whose association may do us harm.

The low, subtle selfishness of the sensual principle will then take its true form of a wily serpent." Fanny caught her breath once or twice, as these words fell upon her ears, and then said, in a deprecating voice-- "Oh, mother! Don't! don't!" And lifting her head from the bosom of her parent, she turned her face away, and buried it in the pillow.
As she did not move for the space of several minutes, Mrs.Markland thought it unwise to intrude other remarks upon her, believing that the distinct image she had already presented would live in her memory and do its work.

Soon after, she retired to her own room.
Half an hour later, and both were sleeping, in quiet unconsciousness..