\"Mercifullyherbookshavecomfortedher。Sheisrestingamongthemnow。Madameispossessedofamagnificentlibrary，sir，encyclopaedicinitsscopeandcosmopolitaninitspointofview。Initarerepresentedeveryageandeveryracesincethedawnofletters；
thousandsuponthousandsofauthors，sir，RabelaisandDeanFarrar，LambandtheHindoos，MettlelinkandthepithofthegreatphilosopherssuchasJohnOliverHobbes，Locke，HumeandEarlSpencer；thebitingsarcasmofHiny，thepathosofPeps，theoratoricalmaster—strokesofsuchmenasGladstone，DemosthenesandKeirHardie；theromanceofKipling，sir，ofBretHarteandDantyRossini；thepoetryofKempisaBrowningandofElizabethThomasBarrett——all，allarethereboundinPersiancalf。Amongthesesheseeksforsolace。Totheseshefliesinhoursofanguish。\"
\"Doessheindeed？\"saidtheProphet，feelingthoroughlyoverwhelmed。
\"Shedesiresmetotakeyoutoheratonce，sir，theretoconferand\"——
heloweredhisvoiceandtrembledvisibly——\"toarrangemeasuresfortheprotectionofmylife。\"
TheProphetfoundhimselfwishingthathehadbeenlessprecipitateincovertlyalludingtoSirTiglath’slongdesireofassaultandbattery，butbeforehehadtimetowishanythingformorethanhalfaminute，Mr。Sagittariushadguidedhimceremoniouslyacrossthehallandwasturningthehandleofadoorthatwasdecoratedwithblackandscarletpaint。
\"Here，sir，\"hewhispered，\"youwillfindMadamesurroundedbytheauthorswhomsheloves，bytheirportraits，theirbiographiesandtheirwritings。Hereshecommuneswiththegreatphilosophers，sir，thepoets，thehistoriansandthehumouristsoftheentireworld，fromtheearliestdaysdowntothisverymoment——inPersiancalf，sir。\"
HegazedawfullyattheProphet，andgentlyopenedthedoorofthistempleoftheintellect。
TheProphetexpectedtofindhimselfusheredintoagiganticchamber，linedfromfloortoceilingwithshelvesthatgroanedbeneaththeirburdenoftheliteratureofgenius。Indeedhehad，infancy，beheldeventhechairsandcouchescoveredwithstacksofvolumes，theveryfloorlitteredwiththechoicestproductionsofthebrainsofthedeadandliving。Hissurprisewas，therefore，verygreatwhen，onpassingthroughthedoor，hebeheldMadameSagittariusreposingatfulllengthuponamaroonsofainasmallapartment，whosebarewalls，wereentirelyinnocentofbook—shelves。Indeedtheonlythingofthesortwhichwasvisiblewasadwarfrevolvingbookcasewhichstoodbesidethesofa，andcontainedsometwentyvolumesbound，asMr。Sagittariushadstated，inPersiancalf，eachofthesevolumesbeingnumberedandadornedwithalabelonwhichwasprintedinlettersofgold，\"TheLibraryofFamousLiterature：EditedbyDr。Carter。TastyTit—bitsfromallTimes。\"
\"Madame，sir，inherlibrary，\"whisperedMr。Sagittariusbythedoor。
\"Sheisabsorbed，sir，anddoesnotnoticeus。\"
IntruthMadameSagittariusdidappeartobeabsorbedinthought，orsomethingelse，forhereyeswereclosed，hermouthwasopen，andasoundofregularbreathingfilledthelittleroom。
\"Sheisthinkingoutsomeproblem，sir，\"continuedMr。Sagittarius。
\"Sheiscommuningwiththemightydead。Sophronia，mylove，Sophronia，Capricornushasbroughtthegentlemanaccordingtoyourorders。Sophy！
Sophy！\"
Hisfinalutterances，whichweresomewhatstridentcausedMadameSagittariustocomeawayfromhercommunionwiththemightydeadwithaloudejaculationofthenatureofasnortcombinedwithahissingwhistle，tokickupherindoorkidbootsintotheair，turnuponherrightelbow，andpresentacountenancemarkedwithpatchesofredandwhite，andapairofgoggling，andyethazy，eyestotheintrudersuponherintellectualexertions。
\"Mr。Vivianhascome，Sophronia，accordingtoyourdirections。\"
Madameutteredasecondsnort，broughtherfeettothefloor，arrangedherfaceinadignifiedexpressionwithonefairhand，breathedheavily，andfinallybowedtotheProphetwithmajesticreserveandremarked，withtheprofessionalclick，——
\"Iwasimmersedinthoughtanddidnotperceiveyourentrance。/Mensinvictusmanetur/。Beseated，Ibeg。\"
Herecertainveryelaboratecontortionsandswellingsofherinterestingcountenancesuggestedthatshewasrepressingagood—sizedyawn，andshewasobligedtorearrangeherfeatureswithbothhandsbeforeshecouldcontinue。
\"Thoughtconquersmatter，asPlauto——IshouldsayasPlatusveryrightlyobesrved。\"
\"Quiteso，\"assentedtheProphet，tryingtoliveuptothelibrary，butscarcelysucceeding。
\"EveninthedaysofthegreatJuvenile，\"proceededMadame，\"towhosesatiresIowemuch\"——hereshelaidalovinghanduponVol。2ofthe\"LibraryofFamousLiterature。\"——\"LongerethedayswhenLordLyttonandhisCaxtonsintroducedustotheblessingsoftheprintingpressthereweredoubtlessladieswho，likemyself，couldforgetthetreacheryandtheliesofmeninsilentcommunionwiththebrainsofthedeparted。FarbettertobeMilton’s’IlPenserosero’thanLordByron’s’L’Allegra！’\"
Tothispronounciamento，whichwasinterruptedseveraltimesbymorealarmingcontortionsofthebrain—worker’sface，theProphetrepliedwithavagueaffirmative，whileMr。Sagittariuswhispered，——
\"Herwholeknowledge，sir，comesstraightfromthere\"——pointingtowardsthedwarfbookcase。\"Shebroughtitontheinstalmentsystem。Dr。
Carterhasmadeherwhatsheis！Thatman，sir，deservestobecanonised。Eightguineasandahalf，sir，andsucharesult！\"
\"Sucharesult！\"theProphetwhisperedback。
BythistimeMadameSagittariushadapparentlyceasedtocommunewiththedead，forherstrikingfaceassumedamorenormalexpressionoffemininebitternessassherealisedwhowasbeforeher，andsheexclaimedsharply，——
\"Oh，soyou’vecomeatlast，Mr。Vivian！Andpraywhathaveyoutosay？
Whatabouttherashes？AndwhatisthisdangerthatthreatensMr。
Sagittarius？\"
\"We’dbettertakethedangerfirst，mydear，\"saidMr。Sagittarius，withgraveanxiety。
\"Verywell。Notthatitshouldbethemostimportanttoonewhowearsthe/togavirilibus/！\"
\"True，mylove。Still，totakeitfirstwillcleartheground，Ithink，andsetmemoreatease。Well，sir？\"
Thusadjured，theProphetresolvedtomakeacleanbreastofSirTiglath’sdeclarations，andhethereforereplied，——
\"IthoughtitonlyrighttowiretoyouasIdid，havinglearntthatthereisinLondonagentleman，aneminentman，whohasforfive—and—
fortyyearsbeenseekingforMalkielwiththeavowedintentionof——
of——\"
\"Ohwhat，sir，ofwhat？\"saidMr。Sagittariuswithtremblinglips。
\"Ofdoinghimviolence，\"repliedtheProphet，impressively。
\"Whatisthegent’sname？\"saidMr。Sagittarius，ingreatagitation。
\"Hisname！/Nomenvolens/！\"addedMadame。
\"That，\"saidtheProphet，\"Iprefernottosayatpresent。\"
\"Butwhyshouldhedesireto——？\"
\"Becauseyouareaprophet。\"
\"There，Jupiter！\"criedMadame，withflushedspitefulness。\"WhathaveI
alwayssaid！Allprophetsarewhattheycalloutsiders——/horsd’oeuvres/，neithermorenorless。\"
\"Iknow，mylove，Iknow。Buthowshouldthisgentrecognisemeforaprophet？I’msuremydress，mymanner，arethoseofanoutsidebroker，asIhaveoftentoldyou，Sophy。How——\"
\"Thegentlemanhasnotyetrecognisedyou，\"saidtheProphet。\"AtthemomenthebelievesyoutobeanAmericansyndicate。\"
\"Thankmercy！\"ejaculatedMr。Sagittarius。
\"Butonecannevertell，\"addedtheProphet。\"Hemightfindout。\"
\"Nonsense！\"criedMadameatthisjuncture。\"WemightquitewellhavegonetothesquareyesterdayasIalwayssuspected。Butyouaresotimid，Jupiter。/TimeoDan——Dan/——well，/Dan/somethingorother，asVirgilsotrulysays。\"
\"Cautious，Sophronia，onlycautious，foryourandthechildren’ssakes！\"
\"Icallamanwho’safraidevenwhenhe’spassingeverywhereasanAmericansyndicateacowardlycustard，\"rejoinedMadame，whoappearedtobesufferingunderthatpeculiarformofflushedirritabilitywhichisapttofollowonheavythought，indulgedintoexcessinarecumbentpositionduringthedaytime。\"There，that’ssettled。Sonowletusgettobusiness。Kindlyhandmeyourprophecyoflastnight，Mr。Vivian。\"
TheProphetdrewfromabreastpocketasheetortwoofnotepaper，onwhichhehaddotteddown，inpropheticform，theeventsofthenightbefore。Madamereceiveditandcontinued，——
\"Beforeperusingthisreport，Mr。Vivian，Ishouldwishtobemadeacquaintedwiththoseparticulars。\"
\"Whichones？\"saidtheProphet。
\"Ofyourgrandmother’scareer。\"
\"Oh，I——\"
\"Letustaketheminorder，please，andproceed/parripasso/。Whenwastheoldladyremovedfromthebottle？\"
\"Never，\"repliedtheProphet，firmly。\"Never。\"
AnexpressionofincredulousamazementdecoratedtheobstreperousfeaturesofMadame。
\"Doyoumeantotellme，Mr。Vivian，thatshesucksitstill？\"sheinquired。
\"ImeanwhatIsay，thatshehasneverbeenremovedfromit，\"returnedtheProphet，withenergy。
\"Well，sir，shemustbeverypartialtomilkandIndianrubber，verypartialindeed！\"saidMr。Sagittarius。\"Goon，mydarling。\"
\"Herfirsttooth，Mr。Vivian——whendidshecutit？\"
\"Shehasnoidea。\"
Madamebegantolookdecidedlygrim。
\"Dateofshort—coating？\"sherappedout。
\"Therewasnodate。Sheneverworeashort—coat。\"
\"Doyoudesiremetobelieve，Mr。Vivian，thattheoldladyhasbeengoingaboutinlongclotheseversinceshewasborn？\"inquiredMadame，withincreduloussarcasm。
\"MostcertainlyIdo，\"repliedtheProphet。
\"Thenhowdoesshegetalong，pray？Come！Come！\"
\"Shehasalwayswornlongclothes，\"criedtheProphet，boldlystandingupforhisbelovedrelative，\"andalwayswill。Youcantakethatfromme，MadameSagittarius。Iknowmygrandmother，andIamreadytopledgemyhonourtoit。\"
\"Oh，verywell。Shemustbeaveryremarkablelady。That’sallIcansay。Whendidsheputherhairup？\"
\"Never。Shehasneverputitup。\"
\"Shehasneverputherhairup！\"
\"No，never。\"
\"Youmeantosaythatyourgrandmothergoesaboutinlongclotheswithherhairdowninthecentraldistricts？\"criedMadameinblankamazement。
\"Shehasneverputherhairup，\"answeredtheProphet，withalmostobstinatedetermination。
\"Oh，well——ifsheprefers！ButIwonderwhatthepoliceareabout！\"
retortedMadame。\"Andnowtherashes？\"
\"Therearenone。\"
ButatthisMadame’stemper——alreadysomewhatupsetbyherprolongedcommunionwiththemightydead——showedsymptomsofgivingwayaltogether。
\"Rubbish，Mr。Vivian！\"shesaid，clickingloudlyandpassingwithanalmostupheavingjerktoherupperregister！\"I’mamotherandwasonceachild。Rubbish！Imustinsistuponknowingthenumberoftherashes。\"
\"Iassureyoutherearenone。\"
\"D’youwishmetobelievethattheoldladyhasgoneaboutallherlifeintheBerkeleySquareinlongclothesandherhairdown，withherlipstothebottleandneverhadarash？Doyouwishmetobelievethat，Mr。
Vivian？\"
\"Yes，sir，doyouwishMadame，aladyofdeepeducation，sir，tobelievethat？\"criedMr。Sagittarius。
\"IcanonlyadheretowhatIhavesaid，\"answeredtheProphet。\"Mygrandmotherhasneverbeenremovedfromthebottle，hasneverwornashortcoat，hasneverputherhairupandhasneverhadanepidemicinBerkeleySquare。\"
\"ThenallIcansayisthatshe’sanunnaturaloldlady，\"criedMadame，withobvioustemper，tossingherheadandkickingoutthekidboots，asifseizedwiththesuddendesiretousethemuponahumanfootball。
\"Andthere’snotmanylikeher。\"
\"Thereisnoonelikeher，nooneatall，\"saidtheProphetwithfervour。
\"SoIshouldsuppose，\"criedMadame，forgettingtheotherquestionsastothedayofmarriage，etc。，inthevexationofthemoment。\"ShemustcertainlybethebirdofwhomPhoenixwrotethatrosefromashesinthedaysoftheclassics。/Rarumavis/indeed！Eh，Jupiter？\"
\"Veryrarum，mydear，veryindeed！\"respondedherhusband，withimitativesarcasm。\"Anavisindeed，notadoubtofit。\"
\"DeQueechyshouldhaveknownher，\"continuedMadame。\"Healwayslovedeverythingoutofthecommon。Well，andnowfortheprophecy。Whatisallthis，Mr。Vivian？\"
\"Theresultoflastnight’sobservation，\"saidtheProphet。
\"Doyoucallthatacycloidalcurve？\"askedMadame，withacontraltolaughthatshookthelibrary。\"Look，Jupiter！\"
Mr。Sagittariusglancedoverhiswife’sheavingshoulder。
\"Verypoor，mydear，veryirregularindeed。\"
\"It’sthebestIcoulddo，\"saidtheProphet，stillpolitely。
\"Idaresay，\"repliedMr。Sagittarius。\"Idaresay。Where’syourstar—
map？\"
\"I’mafraidIdon’tknow，\"answeredtheProphet。\"Ileftitinthepomade。\"
\"Thepomade！\"
\"Yes，thebutler’sownspecialpomade，anditseemstohavedisappeared。\"
\"Verycareless，verycarelessindeed。Let’ssee——prophecyfirst，thenhowarrivedat。’Grandmotherapparentlythreatenedwithsomedangeratnightinimmediatefuture。Greatturmoilinthehouseduringdarkhours。’H’m！’Somestranger，orstrangers，comingintoherlifeandcausinggreattroubleandconfusion，almostresultingindespair，andperhapsactuallyinducingillness。’H’m！H’m！Wedidn’tarriveatanyofthisbyourobservations，didwe，Sophronia？\"
\"Decidedlynot，\"snappedMadame，haughtily。
\"Andnowlet’sseehowarrivedat。H’m！H’m！Grandmother——ingressofCrab——conjunctionofScorpiowithSerpens——moonineleventhhouse。Yes，that’sso。JupiterintrinewithSaturn——What’sthis？’Crabdressedimpliesdanger——undressedCrabmuchsafer——attemptedinterventionfailure——she’sinanicestatenow——ittriedtokeepherfromit，butshewasdrawnrighttoit。’Righttowhat？\"
\"TheCrab？\"
\"Ofcourseshewasdrawntoit。ShedependsontheCrabthesenights。
Butwhatdoestherestmean？\"
\"TheCrabwasdressed。\"
\"Dressed——whatin？\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidtheProphet。\"Itdidn抰tellme。\"
Mr。SagittariusandMadameexchangedglances。
\"Explainyourself，Mr。Vivian，Ibeg，\"criedMadameinasomewhatexcitedmanner。\"HowcouldtheCrabbedressed？\"
\"Ihavewondered，\"saidtheProphet，gazingatthecouplebeforehimwithshiningeyes。\"Butitwasdressedlastnight，andthatmadeitexceptionallydangerousinsomeway。Somethingseemedtotellmeso。
Somethingdidtellmeso。\"
\"Whattoldyou？\"inquiredMadame，withmoreexcitementandacertainrespectwhichhadbeenquiteabsentfromhermannerbefore。
\"Somethingthatcameinthenight。Idon’tknowwhatitwas。Lightflashedfromit。\"
\"Itsoundslikeasortofcomet，mydarling，\"saidMr。Sagittarius，considerablyperturbed。\"Wedidn’tobservethattheCrabwasspeciallydressed，didwe？\"
\"Ithadnothingonatallwhenwesawit，\"saidMadamewithgrowingagitation。\"Butwhateverwasthiscometthatflashedlight？That’swhatIwanttogetat。\"
\"ItwasadarkthingthattoldmetheCrabwasdressed，thatmygrandmotherhadbeenwithitandthatitsinfluencewasinimicaltoher。\"
\"Adarkthing！That’snotacomet！\"saidMr。Sagittarius。
\"Itvanishedwithaflashoflightintothesquare。\"
\"Atwhattimedidyouobserveit，sir？\"askedMr。Sagittarius，whileMadameleanedforward，gazingwithgogglingeyesattheProphet。
\"Atexactlyhalf—pastone。\"
\"Diditstaylong？\"
\"Afewminutesonly——butitmadeanimpressionuponmethatIcanneverforget。\"
IthadapparentlyalsomadeaverygreatimpressionuponMr。andMadameSagittarius，whoremainedforsomesecondsstaringfixedlyattheProphetwithoututteringaword。AtlastMr。SagittariusturnedtoMadameandsaidinavoicethatshookwithseriousness，——
\"Canitbe，Sophronia，thatprophetsoughttoliveinthecentraldistricts？CanitreallybethatthenearertheyaretotheCircus，andeventotheStores——\"
\"/Obeatusilla/！\"interjectedMadameuponthepinionsofasigh。
\"Yes，Sophronia，theStores，themoreclearlyistheknowledgeofthefuturevouchsafedtothem？Ifitshouldprovetobeso！\"
MadamestaredagainupontheProphetwithafixityandstrainedinquirywhichmadehimshiftinhisseat。
\"Ifitshould！\"sherepeated，uponthelowestnoteofherlowerregister，whichsounded，atthatsolemnmoment，likethekeynoteofadreamer。Then，withasuddenchangeofmanner，shecriedsharply，——
\"Jupiter，youmustaccompanythisgentlemanbacktothesquareto—day。\"
TheProphetstarted。SodidMr。Sagittarius。
\"But——\"theycriedsimultaneously。
\"Andyoumustsharehisnightwatch。\"
\"But，mydarling——\"
\"OrIwill，\"criedMadame。\"Whichisittobe？\"
\"Mr。Sagittarius！\"exclaimedtheProphet。
\"Verywell，\"saidMadame。\"Letminebethewearytasktowaitandwatchathome。/Fatafeminus/。ThemysteryofthedressedCrabmustbeunveiled。Shouldthismysteriousvisitantagainvouchsafeapropheticmessage，apracticalprophetmustbeathandtoreceiveit。Jupiter，thisgentlemanisnotpractical。Thisreport\"——shestruckthepaperonwhichtheProphethaddotteddownhisnotes——\"isbadlywritten。ThecycloidalcurvemighthavebeenmadebyaBoardSchoolchild。Thedeductionsdrawn——/deductioadabsurdibus/——revealnotalent，noneoftheprophetic/feudejoie/atall。ButthismysteryofthedressedCrabmaymeanmuch。Jupiter，youwillaccompanythisgentlemanbacktoLondonandyouwillassisthimpracticallyatthetelescopeto—night。\"
\"Verywell，mylove。Iwillriskthepersonaldanger，foryourandthechildren’s——\"
\"But——butreally——\"begantheProphet。\"Iamverysorry，but——\"
\"Madamehasspoken，sir，\"saidMr。Sagittarius，verysolemnly。
\"Iknowshehas。But——yes，Iknowtherearenobutsinyourdictionary，Madame，Iknowtherearen’t——butIhaveanengagementto—nightthatI
havesworn——\"
\"Whatengagement，sir？\"saidMr。Sagittarius，sternly。\"Youhavesworntous。Youmustknowthat。\"
\"Ihavesworntoalmosteveryone，\"criedthedistractedProphet。\"Butthisswear——Imeanthisoathmustbekeptbeforeyours。\"
\"Beforeours，sir？\"
\"Itcomesonbeforeeleven。Ikeepmyoathtoyouafterit。Imanagethetwo，don’tyousee？\"
\"Hewillseethatyoumanagethetwo，Mr。Vivian，Icanassureyou，\"
saidMadame，viciously。\"Won’tyou，Jupiter？\"
\"Certainly，mydear。Whatistheoath，sir，thatyouplacebeforeours？\"
\"AnoathtoMissMinerva，\"returnedtheProphet，beginningtofeelreckless，firmintheconvictionthatitwashenceforthhisdestinytobetheverysportofFate。
\"Ha！\"criedMr。Sagittarius。\"Thedoublelife！\"
\"WhoisMissMinerva，pray？\"saidMadame，shootingaverypenetratingglanceuponherhusband。
\"Yourhusbandcantellyouthat，\"repliedtheProphet，bynomeanswithoutguile。
\"Jupiter，\"criedMadame，\"whatisthemeaningofthis？Whoisthisperson？\"
Mr。Sagittariuslookedexceedinglyuncomfortable。
\"Mydear，\"hebegan，\"sheisayoungfe——thatis，ayoungwo——Ishouldsay——\"
\"Afe！Awo！Explainyourself，Jupiter！\"
\"Sheisalady，mylove。\"
\"Alady！DoIknowher？\"
\"Ibelievenot，mydear。\"
\"Anddoyou？\"
\"No，mydarling。Thatis——thatis——\"
\"Yes，Isuppose！\"saidMadame，withaveryviolentclick。
\"Icanhardlysay，Sophronia，that，Ican’tindeed。Ihavemether，byaccident，quitebyaccidentIassureyou，onceortwice。\"
\"Where？\"
\"AtJellybrand’s。ShegoestheretofetchlettersonthesamedayasI
do。\"
Madame’sveryintellectualbrowwasover—cloudedwithstorm。SheturnedupontheProphet。
\"Andwhatofthisperson，Mr。Vivian？\"shecried。\"Whatofherandthisoath？\"
TheProphet，whowassecretlyverydelightedwiththediversionhehadsocleverlycreated，hastenedtoreply，——
\"Ihavepromisedmostsolemnlytomeetherto—nightatahouseintheZoologicalGardens！\"
\"AhouseintheZoologicalGardens！\"
\"ImeanattheZoologicalHouse，theresidenceofMrs。VaneBridgeman，whois——\"
But，atthispointinhisexplanation，theProphetwasinterruptedbybothhishearers。
\"TheJellybrandone！\"criedMr。Sagittarius。
\"Theprophets’patron！\"vociferatedMadame。
CHAPTERXVI
THEPROPHETRETURNSFROMTHEMOUSEWITHTWOOLDANDVALUEDFRIENDS
AttheseexclamationstheProphetstartedinsomesurprise。
\"Youknowthislady？\"heasked。
\"Byrepute，sir，\"repliedMr。Sagittarius。
\"Whodoesnot？\"criedMadame。\"Shebuiltthe’Prophets’Rest’atBirchington。\"
\"AndtheMediums’AlmshousesatSunnington。\"
\"Andthe’Palmists’Retreat’atMillabyBay。\"
\"Andthe——\"
\"Iseeyouknowallabouther，\"interposedtheProphet。\"Well，sheisgivingareceptionto—nightatZoologicalHouseandIhavesworntobethere。ButIshallgethomebyeleven。Youwillunderstand，however，thatIcannothavethepleasureofentertainingMr。Sagittariusduringtheeveningundermyownroof。Iregretthisextremely，butyouseeitisunavoidable。\"
TotheProphet’sgreatsurprisethislucidexplanationwasreceivedbyhishearerswithastrangesilenceandacombinedmeditative，andevenmoony，staringwhichwastohiminexplicable。BothMadameandMr。
Sagittariusseemedsuddenlyimmersedincontemplation。Theybegan，hethought，tolooklikeBuddhists，orlikethosedevotedpersonswho，inthetimesofthedesertmonks，remainedforlongperiodsposeduponpillowsinsandywastesmusinguponEternity。Atfirst，ashemettheirfixedeyes，hefanciedthattheywere，perhaps，fallingintoatrance，butpresentlytheconvictionseizedhimthattheymustbe，onthecontrary，busilythinkingoutsomeproblem。Hehopedferventlythathedidnotformpartofit。AtlengththequiveringsilencewasbrokenbyMr。Sagittarius。
\"ImightaccompanyyoutoMrs。Bridgeman’s，sir，\"hesaidtotheProphet。\"MightInot，Sophronia？\"
\"Oh，but——\"begantheProphet，veryhastily。
\"Theladyhasfrequentlypressedmetoacceptofherhospitality。\"
\"Indeed！\"