I turned to him in amazement. "My dear Gell, what can you mean? Did not you yourself go in search of her, track her every footstep, and find the very spot where . . . poor darling—" I could say no more for a moment. "Did you not actually bring back those relics, which with the footmarks and wheel tracks formed as good circumstantial evidence as was ever brought before a court of justice?"
"I cannot help it," replied Gell; "I own I was at the time convinced, but ever since we started on the voyage here I have been thinking daily that we were too hasty. Nay, if I must tell you, I have dreamt of her night after night, and seen her face looking at me across the sea with a sad reproachful gaze, as though she would say 'Why did you leave me, William?' And each morning I wake with those words ringing in my ears—and I can't bear it," added the poor fellow with a sob.
"William," said I kindly, laying my hand on his shoulder, "you have been overworking your brain, and will get ill if you don't take care. As for our dear Aurelia having survived, though you know I would lay down my life if I could prove it to be true, and
