In this dream two very beautiful ladies approached him. One was richly dressed and wore the most dazzling jewelry. The other was clad in plain attire. At first, the dreaming Mr. Crandall thought, or dreamt he thought, that the richly dressed one was the prettier. She was certainly very attractive, but, as she came closer, John imagined that much of her beauty was artificial. He said to himself that she painted artistically perhaps, but at any rate she laid it on rather thick. About the other there was no question. She was a beauty, and what loveliness she possessed was due to the bounties of Providence and not to the assistance of the chemist. She was the first to speak. "Mr. Crandall," she said, in the sweetest of voices, "we have come here together so that you may choose between us. Which one will you have?" "Bless me," said Crandall, so much surprised at the unblushing proposal that he nearly awoke himself, "bless me, don't you know that I am married?" "Oh, _that_ doesn't matter," answered the fair young lady, with the divinest of smiles. "Doesn't it?" said Mr. Crandall. "If you had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Crandall I think you would find that it did--very much indeed." "But we are not mortals; we are spirits." "Oh, are you? Well, of course that makes a difference," replied Mr. Crandall much relieved, for he began to fear from the turn the conversation had taken that he was in the presence of two writers of modern novels. "This lady," continued the first speaker, "is the spirit of wealth. If you choose her you will be a very rich man before you die." "Oh, ho!" cried Crandall. "Are you sure of that?" "Quite certain." "Well, then I won't be long making my choice. I choose her, of course." "But you don't know who I am. Perhaps when you know, you may wish to reverse your decision." "I suppose you are the spirit of power or of fame or something of that sort. I am not an ambitious person; money is good enough for me." "No, I am the spirit of health. Think well before you make your choice. Many have rejected me, and afterwards, have offered all their possessions fruitlessly, hoping to lure me to them." "Ah," said Mr. Crandall, with some hesitation. "You are a very pleasant young person to have around the house. But why cannot I have both of you? How does _that_ strike you?" "I am very sorry, but I am not permitted to give you the choice of both." "Why is that? Many people are allowed to choose both." "I know that; still we must follow our instructions." "Well, if that is the case, without wishing to offend you in the least, I think I will stand by my first choice. I choose wealth."