“‘Are you mad?’ he exclaimed, as he closed his fingers about my arm. ‘Why do you call Lottie? Don’t you know she is dying in Memphis?’
“‘She was here this very moment; I felt her skirt brush my knee, and I believe she called my name,’ I replied.
“‘Nonsense! I think there’s a lady in this coach—she passed me a moment ago. I distinctly felt her skirts brush against my knees as she went down the aisle.’
“‘Upon my honor, I thought I heard Lottie call my name.’
“‘Pshaw! Edward, of course that is all imagination, and I beg you not to talk so. I suspect that some one is trying to steal a ride; I am sure there is some one in this coach besides you and me. Try to calm yourself; what makes you tremble that way?’
“‘It is yourself who is trembling; let go my arm—you are hurting it! I declare, you are shaking as if you had an ague fit!’
“‘Yes, and your hand is as cold as ice.’
“‘Hark! what was that? did you hear anything?’
“‘No, but as I live I felt some one brush past me.’
“‘So did I; and it was a female, beyond all doubt, for I felt her skirts touch me as she passed, just as I did a moment ago.’