MD3PAD 163-165

[Toby G Levy]

        Mason fantasizes that he may be able to move Maskelyne closer to
sanity and some day be rewarded by Lord Clive for helping his brother in
law survive St Helena.  After those reveries fade, Mason spends some
time fantasizing various accidents that could happen to Maskelyne.

        And suddenly in all that wind, Mason begins to hear the voice of
his dead wife Rebekah. Even though he is a scientist in the age of
reason, he cannot deny hearing the voice.

        She asks him why he is on St Helena.  He explains that he is
helping Maskelyne measure the distance from Earth to "one star."

        Rebekah calls Mason by her pet name of "mopery."

vw#48: Mopery - the act of moping, vagrancy or dawdling

        Mason dares not tell Maskelyne of these visitations.  But as soon
Dixon returns to St Helena and Mason immediately takes him to a pub
called "The Ruin'd Officer" and tells him. Mason says that he is afraid
he is losing his sanity and asks Dixon for advice. Dixon just says "Get
on with it."

Toby