The Bram Stoker Megapack (258 page)

My wife came and put her arms around me and whispered:

“Augustus, dear—you may have dreamed—I hope so; but, thank God, you are spared to us!”

My mother-in-law said:

“I think you might have managed to keep some of the money, but you never do as you ought in such things. At any rate, you might have told us before this, but I suppose you have so much to conceal that things like this get lost among them.”

Cousin Jemima, after frowning a while and pursing her lips as if thinking, said, sniffing:

“I believe it’s all a lie!”

“My dear Cousin Jemima!” I remonstrated.

“Well! Suppose it’s not,” she answered, sharply, “at any rate, you took the crabs from Old Hoggen’s body and brought them here—no you didn’t bring them here, but you let me buy them—to eat! Ugh!! You brute!!!”

I am still in doubt about the whole affair.

Was it a dream?

I do not know!