"Here I am, dame," said he, with a great deal of curiosity, to say the least of it. "Give me your hand, Squire," said she, stretching out her left arm, and working about her talon-like fingers, as if in eagerness to grasp Mr. Aubrey's hand, which he gave her. "Never fear! never, never! Happy in the Hall! I see all! How long"---- "Why, dame, this is truly a very pleasant greeting of yours," interposed Dr. Tatham, with a smile. "Short and bitter! long and sweet! Put your trust in God, Squire." "I hope I do, granny," replied Mr. Aubrey, seriously. "I see! I hear!--my broth! my broth!--where is it?" "Here it is, granny," said the girl--"It's all ready!" "Good-day, dame," said Mr. Aubrey, gently disengaging his hand from hers; and before they had left the cottage, she began to swallow very greedily the broth with which the little girl fed her. "This is the sort of way in which this old superannuated creature has frightened one or two of"---- "Is it indeed?" inquired Mr. Aubrey, with a sort of mechanical smile. Dr. Tatham saw that he was in a somewhat serious humor. "She's alarmed _you_, I protest!--I protest she has!" exclaimed the doctor, with a slight laugh, as they walked along. Now, he knew the disposition and character of Aubrey intimately; and was well aware of a certain tendency which he had to superstition. "My dear doctor, I assure you that you are mistaken--I am indeed not _alarmed_--but at the same time I will tell you something not a little singular. Would you believe that a month or two ago, when in town, I dreamed that I heard some one uttering something very much like the words which we have just heard from this old woman?"