Carlyle. "Well, I shall wish you good evening, and go to her; for if she
knows I am back all this while, I shall be lectured."

He shook hands with them both. Barbara, however, accompanied him to the
front door, and stepped outside with him.

"You will catch cold, Barbara. You have left your shawl indoors."

"Oh, no, I shall not. How very soon you are leaving. You have scarcely
stayed ten minutes."

"But you forget I have not been at home."

"You were on your road to Beauchamp's, and would not have been at home
for an hour or two in that case," spoke Barbara, in a tone that savored
of resentment.

"That was different; that was upon business. But, Barbara, I think your
mother looks unusually ill."

"You know she suffers a little thing to upset her; and last night she
had what she calls one of her dreams," answered Barbara. "She says that
it is a warning that something bad is going to happen, and she has been
in the most unhappy, feverish state possible all day. Papa has been
quite angry over her being so weak and nervous, declaring that she ought
to rouse herself out of her 'nerves.' Of course we dare not tell him
about the dream."

"It related to--the----"