I've had that jar for six-and-twenty years,"
she added, looking at it with pride, as she tipped it over, and from
the height of the liquid it could be seen that the bottle was still
untouched.
"Twenty-six years?" Rachel exclaimed.
Miss Allan was gratified, for she had meant Rachel to be surprised.
"When I went to Dresden six-and-twenty years ago," she said, "a certain
friend of mine announced her intention of making me a present. She
thought that in the event of shipwreck or accident a stimulant might
be useful. However, as I had no occasion for it, I gave it back on my
return. On the eve of any foreign journey the same bottle always makes
its appearance, with the same note; on my return in safety it is always
handed back. I consider it a kind of charm against accidents. Though I
was once detained twenty-four hours by an accident to the train in front
of me, I have never met with any accident myself. Yes," she continued,
now addressing the bottle, "we have seen many climes and cupboards
together, have we not? I intend one of these days to have a silver label
made with an inscription. It is a gentleman, as you may observe, and his
name is Oliver. . . . I do not think I could forgive you, Miss Vinrace,
if you broke my Oliver," she said, firmly taking the bottle out of
Rachel's hands and replacing it in the cupboard.
Rachel was swinging the bottle by the neck.
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