Page 121 - The snake's pass

CONFIDENCES. 109
hard looks were my lot ; or I found myself climb-
ing the hill, but never able to reach the top—or on
reaching it finding it empty. Then I would find myself
hurrying through all sorts of difficult places—high, bleak
mountains, and lonely wind-swept strands—dark paths
through gloomy forests, and over sun-smitten plains,
looking for her whom I had lost, and in vain trying to
call her—for I could not remember her name. This last
nightmare was quite a possibility, for I had never heard
it.
I awoke many times from such dreams in an agony of
fear; but after a time both pleasure and pain seemed
to have had their share of my sleep, and I slept the
dreamless sleep that Plato eulogizes in the "Apologia
Socratis."
I was awakened to a sense that my hour of rising had
not yet come by a knocking at my door. I opened it, and
on the landing without saw Andy standing, cap in hand.
" Hullo, Andy ! " I said. " What on earth do you
"
want ?
'11 parden me, but I'm jist off wid Misther
" Ter 'an'r
Sutherland ; an' as I undherstand ye was goin' for a walk,
I made bould t' ask yer 'an'r if ye'll give a missage to me
father?"
"Certainly, Andy! With pleasure."
" Maybe ye'd tell him that I'd like the white mare tuk
off the grash an' gave some hard 'atin' for a few days, as
I'll want her brung into Wistport before long."
"Ail right, Andy! Is that all?"