least, by its purely literary claims? If I confined my pen to such results, you, at least, would have a right to blame me. But you, for one, will, I am sure, justify an author in dreaming sometimes.     

       In offering you a story, however, founded on The Second Sight, the belief in which was common to our ancestors, I owe you, at the same time, an apology. For the tone and colour of the story are so different from those naturally belonging to a Celtic tale, that you might well be inclined to refuse my request, simply on the ground that your pure Highland blood revolted from the degenerate embodiment given to the ancient belief. I can only say that my early education was not Celtic enough to enable me to do better in this respect. I beg that you will accept the offering with forgiveness, if you cannot with approbation.     

       Yours affectionately,     

       GEORGE MACDONALD.     

   

 To DUNCAN MCCOLL, Esq., R.N., Huntly. 

   

   

 CONTENTS 

  THE PORTENT  

  CHAPTER I. My Boyhood.  

  CHAPTER II. The Second Hearing.  

  CHAPTER III. My Old Nurses Story.  

  CHAPTER IV. Hilton Hall.  

  CHAPTER V. Lady Alice.  

  CHAPTER VI. My Quarters.  

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