Amos drew a hand up the back of his head and hesitated before answering. “I closed my eyes at home with a wish to be at the station as the train came in, and I found myself there without approaching it from any particular direction.” “And if you had looked down the road,” Mr. Cabot continued, after a pause, “you would have seen yourself approaching in a buggy?” “Yes, probably.” “And from the buggy you might almost have seen what you have just described.” This was said so calmly and pleasantly that Molly, for an instant, did not catch its full meaning; then her eyes, in disappointment, turned to Amos. She thought there was a flush on the dark face, and something resembling anger as the eyes turned toward her father. But Mr. Cabot was watching the smoke as it curled from his lips. After a very short pause Amos said, quietly, “It had not occurred to me that my statement could place me in such an unfortunate position.” “Not at all unfortunate,” and Mr. Cabot raised a hand in protest. “I know you too well, Amos, to doubt your sincerity. The worst I can possibly believe is that you yourself are misled: that you are perhaps attaching a false significance to a series of events that might be explained in another way.” Amos arose and stood facing them with his back against the mantel. “You are much too clever for me, Mr. Cabot. I hardly thought you could accept this explanation, but I have told you nothing but the truth.” “My dear boy, do not think for a moment that I doubt your honesty. Older men than you, and harder-headed ones, have digested more incredible things. In telling your story you ask me to believe what I consider impossible. There is no well-authenticated case on record of such a faculty. It would interfere with the workings of nature. Future events could not arrange themselves with any confidence in your vicinity, and all history that is to come, and even the elements, would be compelled to adjust themselves according to your predictions.” “But, papa, you yourself had positive evidence that he knew of my coming two hours before I came. How do you explain that?” “I do not pretend to explain it, and I will not infuriate Amos by calling it a good guess, or a startling coincidence.” Amos smiled. “Oh, call it what you please, Mr. Cabot. But it seems to me that the fact of these things invariably coming true ought to count for something, even with the legal mind.” “You say there has never been a single case in which your prophecy has failed?” “Not one.” “Suppose, just for illustration, that you should look ahead and see yourself in church next Sunday standing on your head in the aisle, and suppose you had a serious unwillingness to perform the act. Would you still go to church and do it?” “I should go to church and do it.” “Out of respect for the prophecy?” “No, because I could not prevent it.” “Have you often resisted?” “Not very often, but enough to learn the lesson.” “And you have always fulfilled the prophecy?” “Always.”