tch. I pushed it open.

The scene I then saw was so exact a repetition of what had met my
eyes when for the first time I passed under that roof, that it did
not seem as though it could be real; it seemed as though it must be a
freak of memory: the same long low room, the same heavy beams across
the ceiling, the same three chairs, standing in the same places where
they stood then, the same table, and upon it the crwth and bow. There
was a brisk fire, and over it hung the kettle--the same kettle as
then. There were on the walls the same pictures, with the ruddy
fingers of the fire-gleam playing upon them and illuminating them in
the same pathetic way, and in front of the fire sitting upon the same
chair, was a youthful female figure--not Winnie's figure, taller than
hers, and grander than hers--the figure of Sinfi, her elbows resting
upon her knees, and her face sunk meditatively between her hands.

After standing for fully half a minute gazing at her, I went up to
her, and laying my hand upon her shoulder, I said, 'This is a good
sight for the Swimming Rei, Sinfi.'

At the touch of my hand a thrill seemed to dart through her frame;
she leaped up and stared wildly in my face. Her features became
contorted by terror--as horribly contorted as Winnie's had been in
the same spot and under the same circumstances. Exactly the same
terrible words fell upon my ear:--

'Let his children be vagabonds and beg their bread: let them seek it
also out of desolate places. So saith the Lord. Amen.'

Then she fell on the floor insensible.

At first I was too astonished, awed, and bewildered to stir from the
spot where I was standing. Then I knelt down, and raising her
shoulders, placed her head on my knee. For a time the expression of
horror on her pale features was fixed as though graven in marble. A
jug of water, from which the kettle had been supplied, stood on the
floor in the recess. I sprinkled some water over her face. The
muscles relaxed, she opened her eyes; the seizure had passed. She
recognised me, and at once the old brave smile I knew so well passed
over her face. Rhona's words about the curse and the purchase of the
dresses seemed explained now. Long brooding over Winnie's terrible
fate had unhinged her mind.

'My girl, my brave girl,' I said, 'have you, then, felt our sorrow so
deeply? Have you so fully shared poor Winnie's pain that your nerves
have given way at last? You are suffering through sympathy, Sinfi;
you