第67章

"Presentiments? Warnings, you know? I've had several in my life and they have always come to something.I feel as if I was going to have one now.Heavens! Hear that wind and rain! Don't they sound like somebody calling--calling?""No, they don't.They sound cold and wet, that's all.Dear me, Inever saw such a spell of weather.I thought this mornin' 'twas goin' to clear, but now it's come on again, hard as ever.""Well," with dismal resignation, "we'll all go when our time comes, I suppose.We're here today and gone tomorrow.I don't suppose there's any use setting and worrying.Be prepared, that's the main thing.Have you bought a cemetery lot, Mrs.Barnes? You ought to;everybody had.We can't tell when we're liable to need a grave.""Goodness gracious sakes! Don't talk about cemetery lots and graves.You give me the blue creeps.Go to bed and rest up.

You're tired, and no wonder; you've moved no less'n three times since mornin', and they say one movin's as bad as a fire.Here!

Give me that tea-cup.There's nothin' left in it but grounds, and you don't want to drink THEM."Miss Timpson relinquished the cup, took her lamp and climbed the stairs.Her good night was as mournful as a funeral march.

Thankful, left alone, tried to read for a time, but the wailing wind and squeaking shutters made her nervous and depressed, so, after putting the key under the mat of the side door for Heman Daniels, who was out attending a meeting of the Masonic Lodge, she, too, retired.

It was not raining when she awoke, but the morning was gray and cloudy.She came downstairs early, so early--for it was Sunday morning, when all East Wellmouth lies abed--that she expected to find no one, not even Imogene, astir.But, to her great surprise, Miss Timpson was seated by the living-room stove.

"Land sakes!" exclaimed Thankful."Are you up? What's the matter?"Miss Timpson, who had started violently when Mrs.Barnes entered, turned toward the latter a face as white, so Thankful described it afterward, "as unbleached muslin." This was not a bad simile, for Miss Timpson's complexion was, owing to her excessive tea-drinking, a decided yellow.Just now it was a very pale yellow.

"Who is it?" she gasped."Oh, it's you, Mrs.Barnes.It IS you, isn't it?""Me? Of course it's me.Have I changed so much in the night that you don't know me? What is it, Miss Timpson? Are you sick? Can Iget you anything?"

"No, no.I ain't sick--in body, anyway.And nobody can get me anything this side of the grave.Mrs.Barnes, I'm going.""You're GOIN'? What? You don't mean you're dyin'?"Considering her lodger's remarks of the previous evening, those relating to "going when the time came," it is no wonder Thankful was alarmed.But Miss Timpson shook her head.

"No," she said, "I don't mean that, not yet, though that'll come next; I feel it coming already.No, Mrs.Barnes, I don't mean that.I mean I'm going away.I can't live here any longer."Thankful collapsed upon a chair.

"Goin'!" she repeated."You're goin' to leave here? Why--why you've just fixed up to stay!"Miss Timpson groaned."I know," she wailed; "I thought I had, but I--I've changed my mind.I'm going to leave--now."By way of proof she pointed to her traveling-bag, which was beside her on the floor.Mrs.Barnes had not noticed the bag before, but now she saw that it was, apparently, packed.

"My trunks ain't ready yet," went on the schoolmistress."I tried to pack 'em, but--but I couldn't.I couldn't bear to do it alone.

Maybe you or Imogene will help me by and by.Oh, my soul! What was that?""What? I didn't hear anything."

"Didn't you? Well, perhaps I didn't, either.It's just my nerves, I guess! Mrs.Barnes, could you help me pack those trunks pretty soon? I'm going away.I must go.If I stay in this house any longer I shall DIE."She was trembling and wringing her hands.Thankful tried to comfort her and did succeed in quieting her somewhat, but, in spite of her questionings and pleadings Miss Timpson refused to reveal the cause of her agitation or of her sudden determination to leave the High Cliff House.

"It ain't anything you've done or haven't done, Mrs.Barnes," she said."I like it here and I like the board and I like you.But Imust go.I'm going to my cousin's down in the village first and after that I don't know where I'll go.Please don't ask me any more."She ate a few mouthfuls of the breakfast which Thankful hastily prepared for her and then she departed for her cousin's.Thankful begged her to stay until Kenelm came, when he might harness the horse and drive her to her destination, but she would not wait.

She would not even remain to pack her trunks.