my eternal companion, and a fulfilment
of her prophecy that she would be born again. But while I make this
declaration with the utmost positiveness, still I am at a loss to
understand how such a thing could be, as the soul of that lovely being,
having but just left its material body, should according to Natural Law,
have attached itself to an embryo form, while you are a full-grown
woman." At these words she appeared considerably amazed for a moment,
but quickly recovering herself, she said with much sympathy and
tenderness of feeling: "Come, now, Mr. Convert, try and think clearly
and talk sensibly. Don't you recollect how, three years ago, we became
acquainted in Paris; how persistently you followed me all over Europe,
then crossed the Atlantic aboard the same steamer, and finally journeyed
out West to my home? Don't you remember how angry Papa became, and how
he threatened you with dire punishment if you did not stop annoying us?"

"No," said I emphatically, "there must be some mistake, for I have never
visited Paris and I distinctly recollect having been in Japan three
years ago, as I celebrated my nineteenth birthday in Tokio."

"Now that is absurd," said she, with a mingled look of pity and
suppressed amusement. "Three years ago you told me that you were forty
years old. Don't you recollect how you once cautioned me not to consider
you an old man simply because your hair was white, and how angry you
became because I called you Grandpa? Come now, think real hard."

At these words I began to seriously doubt my own identity, but after a
moment of calm deliberation I replied, "No, I do not recollect any such
happenings, and moreover, I am not forty years of age, but twenty-two,
and neither is my hair white but black as you can plainly see. Will you
please tell me where I am? My mind is a trifle confused at the strange
surroundings."

"You are in the Ruff Hospital, New York," answered she. "I, myself, have
been spending some time in this city, and, strangely enough, took a
notion that I should like to see the different hospitals. It was purely
accidental that I ran across you. The doctor says you have typhoid
fever, but," she added, in an encouraging manner, "you will soon be
well. So cheer up, and try to concentrate your mind, so that you can
think properly."

"Ruff Hospital, New York!" ejaculated I, in astonishment. "How the deuce
did I get away over here? Oh, I understand; I fell among the rocks and
was hurt; t