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got a bee in my bonnet； as they say in the North。 Let's talk of
something else。 About those people you have let the cottage to？ I
wonder whether the agent's account of Major Milroy's family is to
be depended on？ There might be another lady in the household
besides his wife and his daughter。〃
〃Oho！〃 cried Allan； 〃_you're_ beginning to think of nymphs among
the trees； and flirtations in the fruit…garden； are you？ Another
lady； eh？ Suppose the major's family circle won't supply another？
We shall have to spin that half…crown again； and toss up for
which is to have the first chance with Miss Milroy。〃
For once Midwinter spoke as lightly and carelessly as Allan
himself。 〃No； no；〃 he said； 〃the major's landlord has the first
claim to the notice of the major's daughter。 I'll retire into the
background； and wait for the next lady who makes her appearance
at Thorpe Ambrose。〃
〃Very good。 I'll have an address to the women of Norfolk posted
in the park to that effect；〃 said Allan。 〃Are you particular to a
shade about size or complexion？ What's your favorite age？〃
Midwinter trifled with his own superstition； as a man trifles
with the loaded gun that may kill him； or with the savage animal
that may maim him for life。 He mentioned the age （as he had
reckoned it himself） of the woman in the black gown and the red
Paisley shawl。
〃Five…and…thirty； 〃 he said。
As the words passed his lips； his factitious spirits deserted
him。 He left his seat； impenetrably deaf to all Allan's efforts
at rallying him on his extraordinary answer； and resumed his
restless pacing of the deck in dead silence。 Once more the
haunting thought which had gone to and fro with him in the hour
of darkness went to and fro with him now in the hour of daylight。
Once more the conviction possessed itself of his mind that
something was to happen to Allan or to himself before they left
the wreck。
Minute by minute the light strengthened in the eastern sky； and
the shadowy places on the deck of the timber…ship revealed their
barren emptiness under the eye of day。 As the breeze rose again；
the sea began to murmur wakefully in the morning light。 Even the
cold bubbling of the broken water changed its cheerless note； and
softened on the ear as the mellowing flood of daylight poured
warm over it from the rising sun。 Midwinter paused near the
forward part of the
ship； and recalled his wandering attention to the passing time。
The cheering influences of the hour were round him； look where he
might。 The happy morning smile of the summer sky； so brightly
merciful to the old and weary earth； lavished its all…embracing
beauty even on the wreck。 The dew that lay glittering on the
inland fields lay glittering on the deck； and the worn and rusted
rigging was gemmed as brightly as the fresh green leaves on
shore。 Insensibly； as he looked round； Midwinter's thoughts
reverted to the comrade who had shared with him the adventure of
the night。 He returned to the after…part of the ship； spoke to
Allan as he advanced。 Receiving no answer； he approached the
recumbent figure and looked closer at it。 Left to his own
resources； Allan had let the fatigues of the night take their own
way with him。 His head had sunk back； his hat had fallen off； he
lay stretched at full length on the deck of the timber…ship；
deeply and peacefully asleep。
Midwinter resumed his walk； his mind lost in doubt； his own past
thoughts seeming suddenly to have grown strange to him。 How
darkly his forebodings had distrusted the coming time； and how
harmlessly that time had come！ The sun was mounting in the
heavens； the hour of release was drawing nearer and nearer； and
of the two Armadales imprisoned in the fatal ship； one was
sleeping away the weary time； and the other was quietly watching
the growth of the new day。
The sun climbed higher； the hour wore on。 With the latent
distrust of the wreck which still clung to him； Midwinter looked
inquiringly on either shore for signs of awakening human life。
The land was still lonely。 The smoke wreaths that were soon to
rise from cottage chimneys had not risen yet。
After a moment's thought he went back again to the after…part of
the vessel； to see if there might be a fisherman's boat within
hail astern of them。 Absorbed for the moment by the new idea； he
passed Allan hastily； after barely noticing that he still lay
asleep。 One step more would have brought him to the taffrail；
when that step was suspended by a sound behind him； a sound like
a faint groan。 He turned； and looked at the sleeper on the deck。
He knelt softly； and looked closer。
〃It has come！〃 he whispered to himself。 〃Not to _me_but to
_him。_ 〃
It had come； in the bright freshness of the morning； it had come；
in the mystery and terror of a Dream。 The face which Midwinter
had last seen in perfect repose was now the distorted face of a
suffering man。 The perspiration stood thick on Allan's forehead；
and matted his curling hair。 His partially opened eyes showed
nothing but the white of the eyeball gleaming blindly。 His
outstretched hands scratched and struggled on the deck。 From
moment to moment he moaned and muttered helplessly； but the words
that escaped him were lost in the grinding and gnashing of his
teeth。 There he layso near in the body to the friend who bent
over him； so far away in the spirit； that the two might have been
in different worldsthere he lay； with the morning sunshine on
his face； in the torture of his dream。
One question； and one only； rose in the mind of the man who was
looking at him。 What had the fatality which had imprisoned him in
the wreck decreed that he should see？
Had the treachery of Sleep opened the gates of the grave to that
one of the two Armadales whom the other had kept in ignorance of
the truth？ Was the murder of the father revealing itself to the
sonthere； on the very spot where the crime had been
committedin the vision of a dream？
With that question overshadowing all else in his mind； the son of
the homicide knelt on the deck； and looked at the son of the man
whom his father's hand had slain。
The conflict between the sleeping body and the waking mind was
strengthening every moment。 The dreamer's helpless groaning for
deliverance grew louder； his hands raised themselves； and
clutched at the empty air。 Struggling with the all…mastering
dread that still held him； Midwinter laid his hand gently on
Allan's forehead。 Light as the touch was； there were mysterious
sympathies in the dreaming man that answered it。 His groaning
ceased； and his hands dropped slowly。 There was an instant of
suspense and Midwinter looked closer。 His breath just fluttered
over the sleeper's face。 Before the next breath had risen to his
lips； Allan suddenly sprang up on his kneessprang up； as if the
call of a trumpet had rung on his ear； awake in an instant。
〃You have been dreaming；〃 said Midwinter； as the other looked at
him wildly； in the first bewilderment of waking。
Allan's eyes began to wander about the wreck； at first vacantly；
then with a look of angry surprise。 〃Are we here still？〃 he said；
as Midwinter helped him to his feet。 〃Whatever else I do on board
this infernal ship；〃 he added； after a moment； 〃I won't go to
sleep again！〃
As he said those words； his friend's eyes searched his face in
silent inquiry。 They took a turn together on the deck。
〃Tell me your dream；〃 said Midwinter； with a strange tone of
suspicion in his voice； and a strange appearance of abruptness in
his manner。
〃I can't tell it yet；〃 returned Allan。 〃Wait a little till I'm my
own man again。〃
They took another turn on the deck。 Midwinter stopped； and spoke
once more。
〃Look at me for a moment； Allan；〃 he said。
There was something of the trouble left by the dream； and
something of natural surprise at the strange request just
addressed to him； in Allan's face； as he turned it full on the
speaker； but no shadow of ill…will； no lurking lines of distrust
anywhere。 Midwinter turned aside quickly； and hid； as he best
might； an irrepressible outburst of relief。
〃Do I look a little upset？〃 asked Allan； taking his arm； and
leading him on again。 〃Don't make yourself nervous about me if I
do。 My head feels wild and giddy； but I shall soon get over it。〃
For the next few minutes they walked backward and forward in
silence； the one bent on dismissing the terror of the dream from
his thoughts； the other bent on discovering what the terror of
the dream might be。 Relieved of the dread that had oppressed it；
the superstitious nature of Midwinter had leaped to its next
conclusion at a bound。 What if the sleeper had been visited by
another revelation than the revelation of the Past？ What if the
dream had opened those unturned pages in the book of the Future
which told the story of his life to come？ The bare doubt that it
might be so strengthened tenfold Midwinter's longing to penetrate
the mystery which Allan's silence still kept a secret from him。
〃Is your head more composed？〃 he asked。 〃Can you tell me your
dream now？〃
While he put the question； a last memorable moment in the
Adventure of the Wreck was at hand。
They had reached the stern； and were just turning again when
Mid