“Come to see me any time tomorrow,” had been the little lady’s invitation.
“Some time tomorrow,” Florence had agreed.
So, ten o’clock next morning found Florence and June Travis in the vicinity of the mysterious little lady’s home.
“It’s strange,” said Florence as they alighted from the car, “that anyone interested in telling fortunes should live in such a rich neighborhood.” She allowed her eyes to take in three magnificent apartment buildings and the smaller homes of pressed brick and rich gray stone that surrounded them.
“But then,” she added, “I suppose she gets a great many wealthy clients, and that’s what really pays. And, of course, she may not be a fortune teller after all.”
“It’s over this way,” June said, paying little heed to her companion’s talk. She was eager to reach the little old lady in gray. Some kind fairy seemed to be whispering in her ear, “This is the one. You have searched long. You have traveled far. You have met with many disappointments. But here at last you are, face to face with reality.”
“Here! Here it is!” she exclaimed in a low whisper. “Such a cute little cottage, all in gray stone.”
“And no sign on the door.” Florence was puzzled more and more.
June’s fingers trembled as she lifted a heavy knocker and let it down with a bang that was startling.
For a short time there was no sign of life in the place. Then, somewhere inside, a door opened and shut. The outer door opened, and there before them stood the Little Lady in Gray.
She was little—very small indeed, yet not really a midget. She was quite gray. And her dress was as gray as her hair.
“Won’t you come in?” she invited. “I have been expecting you for an hour.”
“That’s strange!” Florence thought with a sudden start. “We didn’t tell her when we’d come—just said sometime today.”
“So you are June Travis!” said the little lady. They had been led into the coziest sitting-room it had ever been Florence’s privilege to see. The little lady looked June up and down, as much as to say, “How you have grown! And how beautiful you are!” She did not say it.
Instead, she pointed to a chair, then to another as she suggested, “If you will kindly sit there, and you there, I shall take this large chair, then we can talk. It is a little large,” she looked at the chair that did indeed appear to have been made for a person three times her size, “but with cushions it can be made very comfortable indeed.”