I know before I opened it that it had good news for me . I saw her a few nights ago . ' `` I did n't understand him , and then he explained -- though I did n't understand THAT much better . He said he had a gift -- or a curse . Them was his words , Mistress Blythe -- a gift or a curse . He did n't know which it was . He said a great-great-grandmother of his had had it , and they burned her for a witch on account of it . He said queer spells -- trances , I think was the name he give 'em -- come over him now and again . Are there such things , Doctor ? '' `` There are people who are certainly subject to trances , '' answered Gilbert . `` The matter is more in the line of psychical research than medical . What were the trances of this John Selwyn like ? '' `` Like dreams , '' said the old Doctor skeptically . `` He said he could see things in them , '' said Captain Jim slowly . `` Mind you , I 'm telling you jest what HE said -- things that were happening -- things that were GOING to happen . He said they were sometimes a comfort to him and sometimes a horror . Four nights before this he 'd been in one -- went into it while he was sitting looking at the fire . And he saw an old room he knew well in England , and Persis Leigh in it , holding out her hands to him and looking glad and happy . So he knew he was going to hear good news of her . '' `` A dream -- a dream , '' scoffed the old Doctor .
`` Likely -- likely , '' conceded Captain XXXXX .
Blythe Doctor England Gilbert Jim Leigh Selwyn ago before great-great-grandmother