A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 144: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A QUEER RACE. 141 “But that is not possible. Nobody can think evil against you!” é Yet such a thing has happened, my friend. Fair Island is very beautiful, and its people are happy, but they are not all good. And lately—the last few days—I have had a foreboding. For three nights past, Cato, who, as you know, sleeps always at my chamber door, has growled fiercely, as if he scented danger; and this morn- ing I was wakened by Denzil Fane’s sword falling from the wall and clashing on the floor; and, worse still, it broke off at the hilt. Nothing could be more ominous of evil—and then this foreboding, the like of which for intensity I have never experienced be- fore——” Here she came to an abrupt stop. ‘* A foreboding of what?” I asked. I had already discovered that the islanders were some- what superstitious; but I thought Mab knew better than to believe in signs, omens, and presentiments, or attach importance to the falling of a sword or the growling of a puma. ‘‘A foreboding of danger.” “To whom?” “To myself, to the commonwealth, and to you, Mr. Erle.” ‘““Why to me?” ‘“‘] know not. But lam sure the danger which threat- ens me threatens you also. ‘The foreboding weighs heav- ily on my soul, yet whence 1t comes or how it is caused I cannot say. When we return to Fairhaven I will consult Sybil.” ‘“Who is Sybil?” «The oldest and wisest wOman in the island; the only one to whom it is given to interpret dreams and foretell events.” “A very useful woman to know. I should like to ask her a few questions about myself. My own future is de- cidedly obscure at present. Perhaps she could throw a little light on it,” I said, with mock gravity. ‘‘Tt ig only when she is in the mood that Sybil can dis- cern the shadow of coming events,” returned Mab, coldly, and almost sternly, asif she resented the skepticism which my remark implied. ‘* The prophetic mantle rests not com (@. JOOKS (E(@)