The idea of proximity is unpleasant, even to the incredulous.

"Why to-night ?" he asked.
"Well, I'll say this much of the notion's come true," said the native of Chellaston hastily--"it's awful queer weather--not that I believe it myself," he added.
"Has the weather been so remarkable as to make them think that ?" asked Alec.
"'Tain't the weather _made_ them think it.

He only said the weather weren't unlike as if it were coming true." As the first man said this, he laughed, to explain that he had nothing to do with the tale or its credence, but the very laugh betrayed more of a tendency to dislike the idea than perfect indifference to it would have warranted.
In defiance of this laugh the Chellaston man made further explanation.
He said the religious folks said it was clearly written in the Book of Daniel (he pronounced it Dannel); if you made the days it talks of years, and the weeks seven years, the end must come about this time.

At first folks had calculated it would be 1843, but since then they had found they were thirty years out somehow.
"That would make it this year," agreed the first man.

Some others that had gathered round laughed in chorus.