"I am sure from the way in which he spoke to me about it one day that he knows what it is, and that he looks upon it as real." "Yes, he knows, and so does my mother," she answered, "but they have always kept it secret from me.

My poor father is very excited at present.

Day and night he is in an agony of apprehension, but it will soon be the fifth of October, and after that he will be at peace." "How do you know that ?" I asked in surprise.
"By experience," she answered gravely.

"On the fifth of October these fears of his come to a crisis.

For years back he has been in the habit of locking Mordaunt and myself up in our rooms on that date, so that we have no idea what occurs, but we have always found that he has been much relieved afterwards, and has continued to be comparatively in peace until that day begins to draw round again." "Then you have only ten days or so to wait," I remarked, for September was drawing to a close.