She had become a very astute reader of faces and could tell by the brightening of an eye or the movement of a feature whether she was on the right tack.
“Your home isn’t here and you are going to it in a few days. You see—here’s the house and there’s a distance between,” pointing out the cards. “They are making a big time and lots of company, a great Christmas dinner, and a dance in the evening, and you’ll get kissed under the mistletoe—but you won’t marry that man. There’s two of them—three of them and two offers of marriage. Some one you haven’t seen much of, and there’ll be talk of a diamond.”
She shuffled the cards and ran over them again, enlarging upon the lovers and jealous girls as well as men, presents and fun. “But you’re going to turn your back on it all and you don’t want to a bit, and you’re going to have some trouble, and a journey with a trunk, and—why you’ll be in school and you’ll be most crazy to hear from the young man with the diamond, but you just keep your faith, he’ll be all right and there’ll be a wedding before the leaves fall. Oh, you’ll be as happy as a queen.”
Phillipa laughed and nodded.
“Now, you next,” to Zaidee.
Zay hesitated, but took the chair Phillipa vacated.
At first she seemed a puzzle to the fortune teller. “She had traveled a good deal. Some one was coming across water that she would be glad to see—three people, a fair lady who had had a great deal of trouble, sickness, but was well now. Why they would soon be here and all have Christmas dinner together. There would be a great surprise with a fair young man who cared a great deal for her, and there were wonderful surprises that wouldn’t make her happy at first. Here was a strange girl—but she doesn’t want to come. Gifts and friends, and this stout man—your father,” and she knew by Zay’s face she had guessed right. “He is very fond of you—oh, you needn’t ever be afraid any one will crowd you out. Plenty of lovers, too, when it comes your time; a happy marriage and children, and prosperity. A little sickness, but nothing to be alarmed about.”
Louie’s fortune did not seem so serene. “She was at school and would go home to keep Christmas. This was elaborated in very agreeable styles. Then she would come back, but she would be troubled about a prize, be disappointed in a girl friend who would try to injure her and who would say mean things, but she must not mind them. Then there were journeys and pleasures and lovers, but she would not marry very young and would be engaged twice, and oddly enough be married the second time.”
Then they rose, gathered up their wraps and the fortune teller her money, with profuse wishes for their happiness and a merry Christmas, and shut the door. Zay was leading and opened the hall door, stepping out on the stoop.
“Oh, my goodness! There’s the Dane across the way! Let us run out back and across lots” and they started in a huddle, opening the door that led to another room.