f it were not well founded? In my dreams, I always see
him alive, and I believe firmly that I dream of him so often, because
he is thinking of me.

"When he was at sea, several times I felt disturbed and anxious,
though without any reason for doing so; and each time, on his return,
I found, when we compared dates, that his ship was battling with a
tempest at the time I was so troubled about him. I remember that, the
first time this happened, he laughed at me; but when, upon two other
occasions, it turned out so, he said:

"'There are things we do not understand, Margaret. You know that, in
Scotland, there are many who believe in second sight, as it is called;
and that there are families there, and they say in Ireland, also,
where a sort of warning is given of the death of a member of the
family. We sailors are a superstitious people, and believe in things
that landsmen laugh at. It does not seem to me impossible that, when
two people love each other dearly, as we do, one may feel when the
other is in danger, or may be conscious of his death. It may be said
that such things seldom happen; but that is no proof that they never
do so, for some people may be more sensitive to such feelings or
impressions than others, and you may be one of them.

"'There is one thing, Margaret. The fact that you have somehow felt
when I was in trouble should cheer you, when I am away, for if mere
danger should so affect you, surely you will know should death befall
me; and as long as you do not feel that, you may be sure that I shall
return safe and sound to you.'

"Now, I believe that firmly. I was once troubled--so troubled, that,
for two or three days, I was ill--and so convinced was I that
something had happened to Jack, and yet that he was not dead, that
when, nigh two years afterwards, Ben came home, and I learned that it
was on the day of the wreck of his ship that I had so suffered, I was
not in the least surprised. Since then, I have more than once had the
same feelings, and have always been sure that, at the time, Jack was
in special danger; but I have never once felt that he was dead, never
once thought so, and am as certain that he is still alive as if I saw
him sitting in the chair opposite to me, for I firmly believe that,
did he die, I should see his spirit, or that, at any rate, I should
know for certain that he had gone.

"So whatever you say, though reason may be altogether on your side, it
will not shake my confidence