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Mymothercameoutalonetowelcomemeback。Therewerenosecretsbetweenustwo。Itoldherallthathadhappened，justasIhavetoldittoyou。ShekeptsilencetillIhaddone。Andthensheputaquestiontome。
“Whattimewasit，Francis，whenyousawtheWomaninyourDream？“
IhadlookedattheclockwhenIlefttheinn，andIhadnoticedthatthehandspointedtotwentyminutespasttwo。Allowingforthetimeconsumedinspeakingtothelandlord，andingettingonmyclothes，IansweredthatImusthavefirstseentheWomanattwoo’clockinthemorning。Inotherwords，Ihadnotonlyseenheronmybirthday，butatthehourofmybirth。
Mymotherstillkeptsilence。Lostinherownthoughts，shetookmebythehand，andledmeintotheparlor。Herwriting-deskwasonthetablebythefireplace。Sheopenedit，andsignedtometotakeachairbyherside。
“Myson！yourmemoryisabadone，andmineisfastfailingme。
TellmeagainwhattheWomanlookedlike。Iwanthertobeaswellknowntobothofus，yearshence，assheisnow。“
Iobeyed；wonderingwhatstrangefancymightbeworkinginhermind。Ispoke；andshewrotethewordsastheyfellfrommylips:
“Lightgrayeyes，withadroopinthelefteyelid。Flaxenhair，withagolden-yellowstreakinit。Whitearms，withadownuponthem。Little，lady’shands，witharosy-redlookaboutthefingernails。“
“Didyounoticehowshewasdressed，Francis？“
“No，mother。“
“Didyounoticetheknife？“
“Yes。Alargeclaspknife，withabuckhornhandle，asgoodasnew。“
Mymotheraddedthedescriptionoftheknife。Alsotheyear，month，dayoftheweek，andhourofthedaywhentheDream-Womanappearedtomeattheinn。Thatdone，shelockedupthepaperinherdesk。
“Notaword，Francis，toyouraunt。Notawordtoanylivingsoul。
KeepyourDreamasecretbetweenyouandme。“
Theweekspassed，andthemonthspassed。Mymotherneverreturnedtothesubjectagain。Asforme，time，whichwearsoutallthings，woreoutmyremembranceoftheDream。Littlebylittle，theimageoftheWomangrewdimmeranddimmer。Littlebylittle，shefadedoutofmymind。
VII
Thestoryofthewarningisnowtold。Judgeforyourselfifitwasatruewarningorafalse，whenyouhearwhathappenedtomeonmynextbirthday。
IntheSummertimeoftheyear，theWheelofFortuneturnedtherightwayformeatlast。Iwassmokingmypipeoneday，nearanoldstonequarryattheentrancetoourvillage，whenacarriageaccidenthappened，whichgaveanewturn，asitwere，tomylotinlife。Itwasanaccidentofthecommonestkind——notworthmentioningatanylength。Aladydrivingherself；arunawayhorse；
acowardlyman-servantinattendance，frightenedoutofhiswits；
andthestonequarrytooneartobeagreeable——thatiswhatIsaw，allinafewmoments，betweentwowhiffsofmypipe。Istoppedthehorseattheedgeofthequarry，andgotmyselfalittlehurtbytheshaftofthechaise。Butthatdidn’tmatter。TheladydeclaredIhadsavedherlife；andherhusband，comingwithhertoourcottagethenextday，tookmeintohisservicethenandthere。
Theladyhappenedtobeofadarkcomplexion；anditmayamuseyoutohearthatmyauntChanceinstantlypitchedonthatcircumstanceasameansofsavingthecreditofthecards。HerewasthepromiseoftheQueenofSpadesperformedtotheveryletter，bymeansof“adarkwoman，“justasmyaunthadtoldme。“Inthetimetocome，Francis，bewareo’pettin’yerainblindedintairpretationonthecairds。Ye’reowerready，Itrow，tomurmurunderdispensationofProavidencethatyecannafathom——liketheEesraelitesofauld。
I’llsaynaemairtoye。Mebbewhenthemony’spoweringintoyerpoakets，ye’llnoforgetyerauntChance，leftlikeasparrowonthehousetop，wiasma’annuiteeo’thrattypundsayear。“
Iremainedinmysituation(attheWest-endofLondon)untiltheSpringoftheNewYear。Aboutthattime，mymaster’shealthfailed。Thedoctorsorderedhimawaytoforeignparts，andth
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