Ambrose Nast

i counted myself fortunate to find he was conversant in the story's history and even some of its finer details at that moment i could say nothing more for we had arrived at the house instead i merely produced the coins van delden had proffered and had rankins examine them under the beam of his lantern

He did so carefully, rubbing the surfaces of the coins between his thumbs, reading the inscriptions, making logical connections in his dedicated mind.

I rapped for entry and Beverly soon unlatched the locks and allowed us in.

We made our way up to Florence's room, propriety set aside out of necessity.

I bade Beverly remain downstairs and keep watch over the road, and alert us if she saw anyone approach, or indeed anything at all unusual.

She obeyed.

Florence's voice was small behind her door as she acquiesced to our entry.

She was sitting on the edge of her bed in her nightclothes and a woolen shawl Beverly had knitted for her.

a lamp on the bedside table glowed brightly florence clearly intended to stay up her eyes possessed the vacant look i had come to know and pity

It was when she looked like this that she was most likely to speak of her belief that wolves were plotting to carry away Wellfleet's children, that the sun spoke to her and told her about beings living on other planets, that her dead mother sang Nellie Was a Lady atop Galway Rock to an audience of mermaids.

It had been almost a year since her father had condemned her to live in this house, unable to endure her madness, yet not so cruel as to have her committed to Worcester State Hospital.

He visited once a week, and once a month attended his poor daughter at chapel, the only times she saw a town.

No doctor had come to explore her mind for many months now.

Will you send Beverly in to help me pack my things for the journey?

Florence asked me.

What journey would that be, miss?

I asked, unable to meet her gaze.

The Dutchman will take me away before it gets light, she said confidently.

Oh, sad Ambrose, I wish you could find a love like ours someday.

You've suffered too, I know it, but not like he has.