oncle's head when he make that a mark?'

'Has it not a meaning, Madame?'

'How can you talk like that?' she answered, more in her old way. 'You are
either mocking of me, or you are becoming truly a fool!'

She rang the bell, called for our bill, saw our hostess; while I made a few
hasty prepartions in my room.

'You need not look after the trunks--they will follow us all right. Let us
go, cheaile--we 'av half an hour only to reach the train.'

No one ever fussed like Madame when occasion offered. There was a cab at
the door, into which she hurried me. I assumed that she would give all
needful directions, and leaned back, very weary and sleepy already, though
it was so early, listening to her farewell screamed from the cab-step, and
seeing her black cloak flitting and flapping this way and that, like the
wings of a raven disturbed over its prey.

In she got, and away we drove through a glare of lamps, and shop-windows,
still open; gas everywhere, and cabs, busses, and carriages, still
thundering through the streets. I was too tired and too depressed to look
at those things. Madame, on the contrary, had her head out of the window
till we reached the station.

'Where are the rest of the boxes?' I asked, as Madame placed me in charge
of her box and my bag in the office of the terminus.

'They will follow with Boots in another cab, and will come safe with us in
this train. Mind those two, we weel bring in the carriage with us.'

So into a carriage we got; in came Madame's box and my bag; Madame stood at
the door, and, I think, frightened away intending passengers, by her size
and shrillness.

At last the bell rang her into her place, the door clapt, the whistle
sounded, and we were off.

CHAPTER LXI

_OUR BED-CHAMBER_

I had passed a miserable night, and, indeed, for many nights had not had my
due proportion of sleep. Still I sometimes fancy that I may have swallowed
something in my tea that helped to make me so irresistibly drowsy. It was a
very dark night--no moon, and the stars soon hid by the gathering clouds.
Madame sat silent, and ruminating in her place, with her rugs about her.
I, in my corner similarly enveloped, tried to keep awake. Madame plainly
thought I was asleep already, for she stole a leather flask from her
pocket, and applied it to her lips, causing an aroma of brandy.

But it was vain struggling against the influence that was stealing over me,
and I was soon in a profound and drea