CHAPTER II.
"Oh, what a dream I have had!" exclaimed Mrs.Claire, starting suddenly from sleep, just as the light began to come in dimly through the windows on the next morning; and, as she spoke, she caught hold of her husband, and clung to him, frightened and trembling.
"Oh, such a dream!" she added, as her mind grew clearer, and she felt better assured of the reality that existed.

"I thought, love, that we were sitting in our room, as we sit every evening--baby asleep, I sewing, and you, as usual, reading aloud.

How happy we were! happier, it seemed, than we had ever been before.

A sudden loud knock startled us both.

Then two men entered, one of whom drew a paper from his pocket, declaring, as he did so, that you were arrested at the instance of Mr.Jasper, who accused you with having robbed him of a large amount of money." "Why, Edith!" ejaculated Edward Claire, in a voice of painful surprise.