by W. W. Jacobs
Charlieand Flora went to."
"Of course it does," snapped his wife. "I'd trust what she says aforeanything."
"I know five or six that she has told," said Mr. Lippet, plucking upcourage; "and they all believe 'er. They couldn't help themselves; theysaid so."
"Still, she might make a mistake sometimes," said Mr. Dowson, faintly."Might get mixed up, so to speak."
"Never!" said Mrs. Dowson, firmly.
"Never!" echoed Flora and Mr. Lippet.
Mr. Dowson heaved a big sigh, and his eye wandered round the room. Itlighted on Mr. Foss.
"She's an old humbug," said that gentleman. "I've a good mind to put thepolice on to her."
Mr. Dowson reached over and gripped his hand. Then he sighed again.
"Of course, it suits Charlie Foss to say so," said Mrs. Dowson;"naturally he'd say so; he's got reasons. I believe every word she says.If she told me I was coming in for a fortune I should believe her; and ifshe told me I was going to have misfortunes I should believe her."
"Don't say that," shouted Mr. Dowson, with startling energy. "Don't saythat. That's what she did say!"
"What?" cried his wife, sharply. "What are you talking about?"
"I won eighteenpence off of Bob Stevens," said her husband, staring atthe table. "Eighteenpence is 'er price for telling the future only, and,being curious and feeling I'd like to know what's going to 'appen to me,I went in and had eighteenpennorth."
"Well, you're upset," said Mrs. Dowson, with a quick glance at him. "Youget upstairs to bed."
"I'd sooner stay 'ere," said her husband, resuming his seat; "it seemsmore cheerful and lifelike. I wish I 'adn't gorn, that's what I wish."
"What did she tell you?" inquired Mr. Foss.
Mr. Dowson thrust his hands into his trouser pockets and spokedesperately. "She says I'm to live to ninety, and I'm to travel toforeign parts----"
"You get to bed," said his wife. "Come along."
Mr. Dowson shook his head doggedly. "I'm to be rich," he continued,slowly--"rich and loved. After my pore dear wife's death I'm to marryagain; a young woman with money and stormy brown eyes."
Mrs. Dowson sprang from her chair and stood over him quivering withpassion. "How dare you?" she gasped. "You--you've been drinking."
"I've 'ad two arf-pints," said her husband, solemnly. "I shouldn't 'ave'ad the second only I felt so miserable. I know I sha'n't be 'appy witha young woman."
Mrs. Dowson, past speech, sank back in her chair and stared at him.
"I shouldn't worry about it if I was you, Mrs. Dowson," said Mr. Foss,kindly. "Look what she said about me. That ought to show you she ain'tto be relied on."
"Eyes like lamps," said Mr. Dowson, musingly, "and I'm forty-nine nextmonth. Well, they do say every eye 'as its own idea of beauty."
A strange sound, half laugh and half cry, broke from the lips of theover-wrought Mrs. Dowson. She controlled herself by an effort.
"If she said it," she said, doggedly, with a fierce glance at Mr. Foss,"it'll come true. If, after my death, my 'usband is going to marry ayoung woman with--with----"
"Stormy brown eyes," interjected Mr. Foss, softly.
"It's his fate and it can't be avoided," concluded Mrs. Dowson.
"But it's so soon," said the unfortunate husband. "You're to die inthree weeks and I'm to be married three months after."
Mrs. Dowson moistened her lips and tried, but in vain, to avoid theglittering eye of Mr. Foss. "Three!" she said, mechanically, "three!three weeks!"
"Don't be frightened," said Mr. Foss, in a winning voice. "I don'tbelieve it; and, besides, we shall soon see! And if you don't die inthree weeks, perhaps I sha'n't get five years for bigamy, and perhapsFlora won't marry a fair man with millions of money and motor-cars."
"No; perhaps she is wrong after all, mother," said Mr. Dowson, hopefully.
Mrs. Dowson gave him a singularly unkind look for one about to leave himso soon, and, afraid to trust herself to speech, left the room and wentup-stairs. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Foss took the chair whichMr. Lippet had thoughtlessly vacated, and offered such consolations toFlora as he considered suitable to the occasion.