第39部分(第5/8 頁)

you　talked　of　going　to　Hay　mon　to　visit　the　gipsy　camp；　Sam　here　says　that　one　of　the　old　Mother　Bunches　is　in　the　servants’　hall　at　this　moment；　and　insists　upon　being　brought　in　before　‘the　quality；’　to　tell　them　their　fortunes。　Would　you　like　to　see　her？”

“Surely；　colonel；”　cried　Lady　Ingram；　“you　would　not　encourage　such　a　low　impostor？　Dismiss　her；　by　all　means；　at　once！”

“But　I　cannot　persuade　her　to　go　away；　my　lady；”　said　the　footman；　“nor　can　any　of　the　servants：　Mrs。　Fairfax　is　with　her　just　now；　entreating　her　to　be　gone；　but　she　has　taken　a　chair　in　the　chimney…　er；　and　says　nothing　shall　stir　her　from　it　till　she　gets　leave　to　e　in　here。”

“What　does　she　want？”　asked　Mrs。　Eshton。

“‘To　tell　the　gentry　their　fortunes；’　she　says；　ma’am；　and　she　swears　she　must　and　will　do　it。”

“What　is　she　like？”　inquired　the　Misses　Eshton；　in　a　breath。

“A　shockingly　ugly　old　creature；　miss；　almost　as　black　as　a　crock。”

“Why；　she’s　a　real　sorceress！”　cried　Frederick　Lynn。　“Let　us　have　her　in；　of　course。”

“To　be　sure；”　rejoined　his　brother；　“it　would　be　a　thousand　pities　to　throw　away　such　a　chance　of　fun。”

“My　dear　boys；　what　are　you　thinking　about？”　exclaimed　Mrs。　Lynn。

“I　cannot　possibly　countenance　any　such　inconsistent　proceeding；”　chimed　in　the　Dowager　Ingram。

“Indeed；　mama；　but　you　can—and　will；”　pronounced　the　haughty　voice　of　Blanche；　as　she　turned　round　on　the　piano…stool；　where　till　now　she　had　sat