小说园

第40部分（第1页）

face　grew　momently　darker；　more　dissatisfied；　and　more　sourly　expressive　of　disappointment。　She　had　obviously　not　heard　anything　to　her　advantage：　and　it　seemed　to　me；　from　her　prolonged　fit　of　gloom　and　taciturnity；　that　she　herself；　notwithstanding　her　professed　indifference；　attached　undue　importance　to　whatever　revelations　had　been　made　her。

Meantime；　Mary　Ingram；　Amy　and　Louisa　Eshton；　declared　they　dared　not　go　alone；　and　yet　they　all　wished　to　go。　A　negotiation　was　opened　through　the　medium　of　the　ambassador；　Sam；　and　after　much　pacing　to　and　fro；　till；　I　think；　the　said　Sam’s　calves　must　have　ached　with　the　exercise；　permission　was　at　last；　with　great　difficulty；　extorted　from　the　rigorous　Sibyl；　for　the　three　to　wait　upon　her　in　a　body。

Their　visit　was　not　so　still　as　Miss　Ingram’s　had　been：　we　heard　hysterical　giggling　and　little　shrieks　proceeding　from　the　library；　and　at　the　end　of　about　twenty　minutes　they　burst　the　door　open；　and　came　running　across　the　hall；　as　if　they　were　half…scared　out　of　their　wits。

“I　am　sure　she　is　something　not　right！”　they　cried；　one　and　all。　“She　told　us　such　things！　She　knows　all　about　us！”　and　they　sank　breathless　into　the　various　seats　the　gentlemen　hastened　to　bring　them。

Pressed　for　further　explanation；　they　declared　she　had　told　them　of　things　they　had　said　and　done　when　they　were　mere　children；　described　books　and　ornaments　they　had　in　their　boudoirs　at　home：　keepsakes　that　different　relations　had　presented　to　them。　They　affirmed　that　she　had　even　divined　their　thoughts；　and　had　whispered　in　the　ear　of　each　the　name　of　the　person　she　liked　best　in　the　world；　and　informed　them　of　what　they　most　wished　for。

Here　the　gentlemen　interposed　with　earnest　petitions　to　be　further　enlightened　on　these　two　last…named　points；　but　they　got　only　blushes；　ejaculations；　tremors；　and　titters；　in　return　for　their　importunity。　The　matrons；　meantime；　offered　vinaigrettes　and　wielded　fans；　and　again　and　again　reiterated　the　expression　of　their　concern　that　their　warning　had　not　been　taken　in　time；　and　the　elder　gentlemen　laughed；　and　the　younger　urged　their　services　on　the　agitated　fair　ones。

In　the　midst　of　the　tumult；　and　while　my　eyes　and　ears　were　fully　engaged　in　the　scene　before　me；　I　heard　a　hem　close　at　my　elbow：　I　turned；　and　saw　Sam。

“If　you　please；　miss；　the　gipsy　declares　that　there　is　another　young　single　lady　in　the　room　who　has　not　been　to　her　yet；　and　she　swears　she　will　not　go　till　she　has　seen　all。　I　thought　it　must　be　you：　there　is　no　one　else　for　it。　What　shall　I　tell　her？”

“Oh；　I　will　go　by　all　means；”　I　answered：　and　I　was　glad　of　the　unexpected　opportunity　to　gratify　my　much…excited　curiosity。　I　slipped　out　of　the　room；　unobserved　by　any　eye—for　the　pany　were　gathered　in　one　mass　about　the　trembling　trio　just　returned—and　I　closed　the　door　quietly　behind　me。

“If　you　like；　miss；”　said　Sam；　“I’ll　wait　in　the　hall　for　you；　and　if　she　frightens　you；　just　call　and　I’ll　e　in。”

“No；　Sam；　return　to　the　kitchen：　I　am　not　in　the　least　afraid。”　Nor　was　I；　but　I　was　a　good　deal　interested　and　excited。

Chapter　19

The　library　looked　tranquil　enough　as　I　entered　it；　and　the　Sibyl—　if　Sibyl　she　were—was　seated　snugly　enough　in　an　easy…chair　at　the　chimney…corner。　She　had　on　a　red　cloak　and　a　black　bon：　or　rather；　a　broad…brimmed　gipsy　hat；　tied　down　with　a　striped　handkerchief　under　her　chin。　An　extinguished　candle　stood　on　the　table；　she　was　bending　over　the　fire；　and　seemed　reading　in　a　little　black　book；　like　a　prayer…book；　by　the　light　of　the　blaze：　she　muttered　the　words　to　herself；　as　most　old　women　do；　while　she　read；　she　did　not　desist　immediately　on　my　entrance：　it　appeared　she　wished　to　finish　a　paragraph。

I　stood　on　the　rug　and　warmed　my　hands；　which　were　rather　cold　with　sitting　at　a　distance　from　the　drawing…room　fire。　I　felt　now　as　posed　as　ever　I　did　in　my　life：　there　was　nothing　indeed　in　the　gipsy’s　appearance　to　trouble　one’s　calm。　She　shut　her　book　and　slowly　looked　up；　her　hat…brim　partially　shaded　her　face；　yet　I　could　see；　as　she　raised　it；　that　it　was　a　strange　one。　It　looked　all　brown　and　black：　elf…locks　bristled　out　from　beneath　a　white　band　which　passed　under　her　chin；　and　came　half　over　her　cheeks；　or　rather　jaws：　her　eye　confronted　me　at　once；　with　a　bold　and　direct　gaze。

“Well；　and　you　want　your　fortune　told？”　she　said；　in　a　voice　as　decided　as　her　glance；　as　harsh　as　her　features。

“I　don’t　care　about　it；　mother；　you　may　please　yourself：　but　I　ought　to　warn　you；　I　have　no　faith。”

“It’s　like　your　impudence　to　say　so：　I　expected　it　of　you；　I　heard　it　in　your　step　as　you　crossed　the　threshold。”

“Did　you？　You’ve　a　quick　ear。”

“I　have；　and　a　quick　eye　and　a　quick　brain。”

“You　need　them　all　in　your　trade。”

“I　do；　especially　when　I’ve　customers　like　you　to　deal　with。　Why　don’t　you　tremble？”

“I’m　not　cold。”

“Why　don’t　you　turn　pale？”

“I　am　not　sick。”

“Why　don’t　you　consult　my　art？”

“I’m　not　silly。”

The　old　crone　“nichered”　a　laugh　under　her　bon　and　bandage；　she　then　drew　out　a　short　black　pipe；　and　lighting　it　began　to　smoke。　Having　indulged　a　while　in　this　sedative；　she　raised　her　bent　body；　took　the　pipe　from　her　lips；　and　while　gazing　steadily　at　the　fire；　said　very　deliberately—“You　are　cold；　you　are　sick；　and　you　are　silly。”

“Prove　it；”　I　rejoined。

“I　will；　in　few　words。　You　are　cold；　because　you　are　alone：　no　contact　strikes　the　fire　from　you　that　is　in　you。　You　are　sick；　because　the　best　of　feelings；　the　highest　and　the　sweetest　given　to　man；　keeps　far　away　from　you。　You　are　silly；　because；　suffer　as　you　may；　you　will　not　beckon　it　to　approach；　nor　will　you　stir　one　step　to　meet　it　where　it　waits　you。”

She　again　put　her　short　black　pipe　to　her　lips；　and　renewed　her　smoking　with　vigour。

“You　might　say　all　that　to　almost　any　one　who　you　knew　lived　as　a　solitary　dependent　in　a　great　house。”

“I　might　say　it　to　almost　any　one：　but　would　it　be　true　of　almost　any　one？”

“In　my　circumstances。”

“Yes；　just　so；　in　your　circumstances：　but　find　me　another　precisely　placed　as　you　are。”

“It　would　be　easy　to　find　you　thousands。”

“You　could　scarcely　find　me　one。　If　you　knew　it；　you　are　peculiarly　situated：　very　near　happiness；　yes；　within　reach　of　it。　The　materials　are　all　prepared；　there　only　wants　a　movement　to　bine　them。　Chance　laid　them　somewhat　apart；　let　them　be　once　approached　and　bliss　results。”

“I　don’t　understand　enigmas。　I　never　could　guess　a　riddle　in　my　life。”

“If　you　wish　me　to　speak　more　plainly；　show　me　your　palm。”