. The choice works of Thomas Hood, in prose and verse. in this superstition ; and in the very moment that he breathedthe unseemly aspiration aforesaid, it occurred to him that the Evenwas at hand when, by observing the rite of St Mark, he mi;^ht knowto a certainty whether this unchristian wishwas to be one of thosethat bear fruit. Accordingly, a little before midnight he stole quietlyout of the house, and in something of a sexton-like spirit set forth onhis way to the church. In the meantime the Dame called to mind the same ceremonial: andhaving the like motive for curiosity with her husband,
. The choice works of Thomas Hood, in prose and verse. in this superstition ; and in the very moment that he breathedthe unseemly aspiration aforesaid, it occurred to him that the Evenwas at hand when, by observing the rite of St Mark, he mi;^ht knowto a certainty whether this unchristian wishwas to be one of thosethat bear fruit. Accordingly, a little before midnight he stole quietlyout of the house, and in something of a sexton-like spirit set forth onhis way to the church. In the meantime the Dame called to mind the same ceremonial: andhaving the like motive for curiosity with her husband, she also put onher cloak and calash, and set out, though by a different path, on thesame errand. The night of the saint was as dark and chill as the mysteries he 462 SAINT MARKS EVE. was supposed to reveal, the moon throwing but a short occasionalglance, as the sluggish masses of cloud were driven slowly across herface. Thus it fell out our two adventurers were quite unconsciousof being in company, till a sudden glimpse of moonlight showed them. Second Sight. to each other, only a few yards apart—both, through a natural panic,as pale as ghosts, and both making eagerly lowaids ihe cluurh IK h as ihcy had just wished for this vision, not helpqu king rind stopping on the £i:)Ot, as if turned to a pair of tombstones,;ind in this position the dark ;ain threw a sudden curtain over them,and they disappeared from each other. It .will be supposed ihe two came only to one conclusion, each con-ceiving, that St Mark had marked the other to himself. With thiscomfortnble knowledge, the widow and widower .elect hie(^,h,ome aj^ain\>\ the roads ihey came* ; and as their custom was to sit apart alter , they repaired, each ignorant of the others excursion, to 5epa-raie chambers. By and by. being called to supi cr, instead of sulking as aforetime,they came dovvn together, each being secretly in the best humour,though muuially suspected of the worst; and
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