This message ! What did it mean ? How was he to go
there? How stand among all the people in Mr. WoU
combe's rooms ? How meet her ?

And yet^ do as he would^ one thought returned perpe-
tually. He might err^ and the error be fatal.
'' No^ no ! No more thought ! It maddens me !" he
cried^ starting up ; '' my brain only gets more and more
helplessly confused. This message ! Is there some fate
involved in it f I grow strangely superstitious^ and fancy
I know not what. The air must be heavy and close.
Would the meeting were over ! My mind misgives me.
And yetj who can tell^ but that all things may be working
together onwards to some appointed end> and compelling
me to march with them 7 Mysterious forces seem to hem
me in. Yet I can see nothing ; hear nothmg x. nay^ I
know there is nothing but myself in the place. Why,
then^ this shrinking of the spirit and of the flesh f What
can that be to which I dare not give name^ and which so
oppresses me ? I can no longer breathe. Ha ! I begin
to see it now It rises fiercely looming through the



2CX> ABRL DRAKES WIFE.
