Page:Tales of the Dead.djvu/104

 “In spite of the violent emotions which were created by my father’s misfortune, and the idea of separating from all the friends I loved, his apparent tranquillity produced a salutary effect on my mind. At midnight we set off. My father was so much master of himself under his change of condition, that by the time he arrived at his estate he was calm and serene.

“He found many things to arrange and improve; and his active turn of mind soon led him to find a train of pleasing occupations.

“In a short time, however, he was withdrawn from them, by an illness which the physicians regarded as very serious. My father conformed to all they prescribed: he abstained from all occupation, though he entertained very little hope of any good resulting from it. ‘Seraphina,’ he said to me (entirely changing his former opinion), ‘Seraphina has twice predicted true; and will a third time.’

“This conversation made me very miserable; for I understood from it that my father believed he should shortly die.

“In fact, he visibly declined, and was at length forced to keep his bed. He one evening sent for me; and after having dismissed his attendants, he, in a feeble voice, and with frequent interruptions, thus addressed me:—

Experience has cured me of incredulity; When