middle of the night to fill her kettles." Passing on, I proceeded
to the spring, where I filled the kettle, and then returned to the
dingle.

Placing the kettle upon the fire, I watched it till it began to
boil; then removing it from the top of the brands, I placed it
close beside the fire, and leaving it simmering, I retired to my
tent; where, having taken off my shoes, and a few of my garments, I
lay down on my palliasse, and was not long in falling asleep. I
believe I slept soundly for some time, thinking and dreaming of
nothing; suddenly, however, my sleep became disturbed, and the
subject of the patterans began to occupy my brain. I imagined that
I saw Ursula tracing her husband, Launcelot Lovel, by means of his
patterans; I imagined that she had considerable difficulty in doing
so; that she was occasionally interrupted by parish beadles and
constables, who asked her whither she was travelling, to whom she
gave various answers. Presently methought that, as she was passing
by a farm-yard, two fierce and savage dogs flew at her; I was in
great trouble, I remember, and wished to assist her, but could not,
for though I seemed to see her, I was still at a distance: and now
it appeared that she had escaped from the dogs, and was proceeding
with her cart along a gravelly path which traversed a wild moor; I
could hear the wheels grating amidst sand and gravel. The next
moment I was awake, and found myself sitting up in my tent; there
was a glimmer of light through the canvas caused by the fire; a
feeling of dread came over me, which was perhaps natural, on
starting suddenly from one's sleep in that wild lone place; I half
imagined that some one was nigh the tent; the idea made me rather
uncomfortable, and, to dissipate it, I lifted up the canvas of the
door and peeped out, and, lo! I had a distinct view of a tall