Mina Murray’s Journal

           18August. —Iamhappytoday,andwritesittingontheseatinthechurchyard. Lucyiseversomuchbetter. Lastnightshesleptwellallnight,anddidnotdisturbmeonce. 

           Therosesseemcomingbackalreadytohercheeks,thoughsheisstillsadlypaleandwan-looking. IfshewereinanywayanemicIcouldunderstandit,butsheisnot. Sheisingayspiritsandfulloflifeandcheerfulness. Allthemorbidreticenceseemstohavepassedfromher,andshehasjustremindedme,asifIneededanyreminding,ofthatnight,andthatitwashere,onthisveryseat,Ifoundherasleep. 

           Asshetoldmeshetappedplayfullywiththeheelofherbootonthestoneslabandsaid, 

           "Mypoorlittlefeetdidn’tmakemuchnoisethen!IdaresaypooroldMr.SwaleswouldhavetoldmethatitwasbecauseIdidn’twanttowakeupGeordie." 

           Asshewasinsuchacommunicativehumour,Iaskedherifshehaddreamedatallthatnight. 

           Beforesheanswered,thatsweet,puckeredlookcameintoherforehead,whichArthur,IcallhimArthurfromherhabit,saysheloves,andindeed,Idon’twonderthathedoes. Thenshewentoninahalf-dreamingkindofway,asiftryingtorecallittoherself. 

           "Ididn’tquitedream,butitallseemedtobereal. Ionlywantedtobehereinthisspot. Idon’tknowwhy,forIwasafraidofsomething,Idon’tknowwhat. Iremember,thoughIsupposeIwasasleep,passingthroughthestreetsandoverthebridge. AfishleapedasIwentby,andIleanedovertolookatit,andIheardalotofdogshowling. Thewholetownseemedasifitmustbefullofdogsallhowlingatonce,asIwentupthesteps.