Ralph called at the Squire's, and I saw him admitted. So
I shook my head disapprovingly, and kept on my way.
Not until late in the afternoon did I find occasion to go into that
part of the town where the old Allen house was located, though the
image of its gleaming north-west windows was frequently in my
thought. The surprise occasioned by that incident was in no way
lessened on seeing a carriage drive in through the gateway, and two
ladies alight therefrom and enter the house. Both were in mourning.
I did not see their faces; but, judging from the dress and figure of
each, it was evident that one was past the meridian of life, and the
other young. Still more to my surprise, the carriage was not built
after our New England fashion, but looked heavy, and of a somewhat
ancient date. It was large and high, with a single seat for the
driver perched away up in the air, and a footman's stand and
hangings behind. There was, moreover, a footman in attendance, who
sprung to his place after the ladies had alighted, and rode off to
the stables.
"Am I dreaming?" said I to myself, as I kept on my way, after
witnessing this new incident in the series of strange events that
were half-bewildering me.
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