exclaimed the Carrier , supporting her in his arms . `` Are you ill ? What is it ? Tell me dear ! '' She only answered by beating her hands together , and falling into a wild fit of laughter . Then , sinking from his grasp upon the ground , she covered her face with her apron , and wept bitterly . And then , she laughed again , and then she cried again , and then she said how cold she was , and suffered him to lead her to the fire , where she sat down as before . The old man standing , as before , quite still . `` I 'm better , John , '' she said . `` I 'm quite well now -- I -- '' `` John ! '' But John was on the other side of her . Why turn her face towards the strange old gentleman , as if addressing him . Was her brain wandering ? `` Only a fancy , John dear -- a kind of shock -- a something coming suddenly before my eyes -- I do n't know what it was . It 's quite gone , quite gone . '' `` I 'm glad it 's gone , '' muttered Tackleton , turning the expressive eye all round the room . `` I wonder where it 's gone , and what it was . Humph ! Caleb , come here ! Who 's that with the grey hair ? ''
`` I do n't know , sir , '' returned Caleb XXXXX a whisper .
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