"It is so, Ellen; I cannot help it. That Joshua is near us, I am certain. See: is there anybody in the street?"
Ellen looked up and down. No; there was no person to be seen, and she said so.
"How beautiful the night is, Dan!"
"Yes, like fairyland, almost," said Dan. "It hurts me to see that black track on the other side, where the man was walking. Did you notice how he slouched along? Look at that shadow at the end of the street. Is it the same man, I wonder?"
The shadow lingered for a few moments, as if undecided which road to take, and then disappeared again.
"Dan, dear," whispered Ellen, "you said that you would not tell your fancies to any one but me."
"Well, Ellen?"
"May I whisper something, my dear?" she asked very tenderly.
"Yes."
"Would you not tell them to Minnie?"