Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/48

20 my doctoral capacity——secured you a bedroom on the ground-floor, so that you will not need to ascend the stairs at all.

"I shall expect you by last train on Friday, in accordance with your letter: and, till then, I shall say, in the words of the old song, 'Oh for Friday nicht! Friday's lang a-coming!'

"Yours always,

".

"P.S.Do you believe in Fate?"

This Postscript puzzled my sorely. "He is far too sensible a man," I thought, "to have become a Fatalist. And yet what else can he mean by it?" And, as I folded up the letter and put it away, I inadvertently repeated the words aloud. "Do you believe in Fate?"

The fair 'Incognita' turned her head quickly at the sudden question. "No, I don't!" she said with a smile. "Do you?"

"I——I didn't mean to ask the question!" I stammered, a little taken aback at having begun a conversation in so unconventional a fashion.

The lady's smile became a laugh——not a mocking laugh, but the laugh of a happy child