"You're not as trivial as you wish to appear," replied the palmist; "you are very frank and straightforward, but reserved on subjects that are nearest your heart.... Is there any question you would like to ask me?"
"I should like to know," said Felicity, giving herself away as the most sceptical victim always does, "whether the person I care for is true to me."
As she said the words she thought they sounded as if she were a sentimental shop-girl whose young man had shown signs of ceasing his attentions. And why not? She felt exactly like that shop-girl. It was precisely the same thing.
The palmist smiled sympathetically, and said, "He has no other thought but you. Believe me, you are his one object, and he will be true to you through life."
"And how on earth can you see that?" said Felicity, unreasonably cheered, though inclined to laugh.
"I can't say. It's not possible to explain these things; but here, you see, your Fate line is a wonderfully good one, and it goes parallel (if I may say so) with the heart line. Now, if the Life line had crossed it, or reached the Mount of Luna—well, I should have said you were destined to disappointment in love. But that is not so. You have a lucky hand. You have artistic tastes, but would never work in any direction, except the social—that is why I say a diplomatic circle would have suited you."
Felicity feared the soothsayer was getting rather bored with her, so she said—
"Thank you. Have you any advice to give me before I go?"
"Yes. It would be to your advantage if you used your head less and followed your natural impulses more."
"Then I must throw something at Chetwode's head when I see him," thought Felicity.