He did not know what reply to make; and, after a slight chuckle, which gave him time for reflection:
"If I told you, would you believe me?"
"Why not?"
Frederick informed her that he had had a frightful dream a few nights before.
"I dreamt that you were seriously ill—near dying."
"Oh! my husband and I are never ill."
"I have dreamt only of you," said he.
She gazed at him calmly: "Dreams are not always realised."
Frederick stammered, sought to find appropriate words to express himself in, and then plunged into a flowing period about the affinity of souls. There existed a force which could, through the intervening bounds of space, bring two persons into communication with each other, make known to each the other's feelings, and enable them to reunite.
She listened to him with downcast face, while she smiled with that beautiful smile of hers. He watched her out of the corner of his eye with delight, and poured out his love all the more freely through the easy channel of a commonplace remark.