“'Bob?' says I, not thinking at first who he meant. Oh, Bob is dead—he has been dead these three years.'
“Without noticing my reply, he exclaimed: 'Where did all that hay come from? Where's the old meetin'-house?'
“'Don't you know?' says I. 'Some rogues set fire to it the night after you got hurt, and burnt it up.'
“He seemed then just beginning to realize that something extraordinary had happened.
“'Stark,' says he, 'what's the matter with ye? You're changed.'
“'Yes,' say I, 'I wear my beard now, and I've grown older!'
“'Dumbed if 'ta'n't odd!' says he. 'Stark, what in thunder's the matter with me?
“'You've had meeting-house on the brain for the past four years,' says I; 'that's what's the matter.'
“It was some time before I could make him understand that he had been out of his head, and that so long a time had been a blank to him.
“Then he said, 'Is this my farm?'