At the sight of the Gypsy, who followed the maid into the library, Natalie and Mabel exchanged glances. She was the same girl they had seen on the street that afternoon.
“Yes, lady,” and the Nomad made a bow. Then she looked calmly at the faces of those surrounding her. She seemed clean and neat, and even the half-admiring, if a little too bold glances of the boys, did not disconcert her. She was really pretty, a fact which Marie whispered to Natalie.
“Aren’t you afraid to be out so late?” went on Mabel.
“It is hardly dark yet—and who would harm a Gypsy maiden?” was the somewhat enigmatical answer.
“What do you charge for fortunes?” asked Mabel.
“Only twenty-five cents when I go from house to house. Though at our camp Neezar, our Queen, charges fifty and sometimes a dollar, for a very long fortune.”
“Certainly, lady,” spoke the Gypsy, and though her tones were a trifle coarse, her language was more correct than that of some school girls.
“I guess we’ll try the twenty-five cent fortunes,” suggested Alice. “What is your name?”
“I’ll go a dollar’s worth of fortune, Hadee,” whispered Jack.
“Will you tell them out here—where we all can listen?” asked Marie.
“No indeed—I don’t want any one to hear mine!” exclaimed Natalie, quickly.
“It is not done so,” explained the Gypsy. “Each one has her own fortune—it is for herself alone. I will not tell them in public,” and she seemed determined.
“I guess that would be better,” agreed Mabel. “We can go, one at a time, into this little room off the library. Who’ll be first.”
“This is only for us girls,” rebuked Alice, “you may go practice bridge, whist, or chess.”
“Will you tell us your fortunes afterward?” asked Blake.
“Never—not until they come true!” laughed Natalie.
“I will tell yours first,” spoke the Gypsy, looking at Natalie with what the others thought a strange glance. “I can see you have much of a fortune in your hand—and—in your face.”
“Oh, how romantic! Well, I’m ready,” and Natalie went into a small room, opening off the library, with the Gypsy maiden.
Then, through the closed door, came a murmur of voices, but they were drowned in the excited comments of the other three girls, while the boys added their share.
Natalie came out a little later looking rather pale under her olive skin, but when quizzed about it, she laughingly declared there was no cause for it, since she had been promised a most glorious future.