Once the children were in bed, they talked awhile of their fortunate deliverance. Duke came in for a big share of praise. Then Julia fell asleep, but Beth felt very wide awake. Presently, even Duke on the floor near their bed also slept. Beth knew that he was sleeping because he moaned as if he were haunted by a nightmare of the fire.
"Poor, poor fellow, he feels almost as bad as I," thought Beth. For a long time she lay awake wondering what her father would do now that their home with all its contents was burned.
"Just s'posing—just s'posing——" With these words Beth fell into a troubled sleep.
About ten minutes afterwards, she began crying in her sleep, which wakened Julia.
"Why, Beth dear, what's the matter?" and Julia twined her arm lovingly around her friend.
Beth wakened with a start. She sat up in bed. "Where am I, Julia? In Florida?"
"Of course, dear. What made you——"
"Oh, I'm so glad I'm here. I went to sleep s'posing——"
"Supposing what, Beth?"
"Oh, I don't like to tell for fear it may come true. I dreamed that it did come true and it made me very miserable."