ed heavy loss by his Italian transactions; and
hence the sight of an Italian was hateful to him, and the principal part
in his nightmare would naturally enough be played by one of that nation.

"What your father wants," I said, "is a good doctor and some calming
medicine."

"But Mr. Northmour?" objected your mother. "He is untroubled by losses,
and yet he shares in this terror."

I could not help laughing at what I considered her simplicity.

"My dear," said I, "you have told me yourself what reward he has to look
for. All is fair in love, you must remember; and if Northmour foments
your father's terrors, it is not at all because he is afraid of any
Italian man, but simply because he is infatuated with a charming
English woman."

She reminded me of his attack upon myself on the night of the
disembarkation, and this I was unable to explain. In short, and from one
thing to another, it was agreed between us that I should set out at once
for the fisher village, Graden-Wester, as it is called, look up all the
newspapers I could find, and see for myself if there seemed any basis of
fact for these continued alarms. The next morning, at the same hour and
place, I was to make my report to Clara. She said no more on that
occasion about my departure; nor, indeed, did she make it a secret that
she clung to the thought of my proximity as something helpful and
pleasant; and, for my part, I could not have left her, if she had gone
upon her knees to ask it.

I reached Graden-Wester before ten in the forenoon; for in those days I
was an excellent pedestrian, and the distance, as I think I have said,
was little over seven miles; fine walking all the way upon the springy
turf. The village is one of the bleakest on that coast, which is saying
much: there is a church in a hollow; a miserable haven in the rocks,
where many boats have been lost as they returned from fishing; two or
three score of stone houses arranged along the beach and in two streets,
one leading from the harbour, and another striking out from it at right
angles; and, at the corner of these two, a very dark and cheerless
tavern, by way of principal hotel.

I had dressed myself somewhat more suitably to my station in life, and
at once called upon the minister in his little manse beside the
graveyard. He knew me, although it was more than nine years since we had
met; and when I told him that I had been long upon a walking tour, and
was behind with the news, readily le