"Aré! Aré! whatt this is arl about I cannot say," proclaimed Nani after an hour's silent contemplation. "I have seen strange things, child, and a change that is coming to you—not death, not marriage. You look at me—I see your face, and it smiles and—fades. No, no, no; it is of no use! Yet this is a lucky day, and the omens are good. I met this morning first thing, Mrs. Trotter—a mother of sons—what could be better?"
"Never mind, Nani—I have no luck."
"Well, you have something—I cannot understand; a veil hangs over your future. Now with Dom it is so easy, and Dom believes in the ink-pool of the crystal."
"Does she?"
"To her you see it tells of a great uplifting—she stands with a light around her. This may mean one of two things—a place above others, or a violent death. Dom is a strange creature—she has strange blood in her veins. She is all for herself. Only you notice, Dom will say: 'So and so, he likes me'; 'there's So and so, she adores me'; but never 'I like this one, or that one.' Dom likes only Dom," and Nani nodded with melancholy emphasis.
"She has a handsome, witch-like face, and such a clever head—but of whatt use here, I say to myself. What avails a mirror to a blind man? She can never go beyond Manora—no? She will marry into the railway, like Blanche, for all her cravings."
"Nani, I wonder why my father ever came here?"
"Because he had no choice, child."
"You remember him as a young man?"
"Why, of course. I remember as yesterday when I saw him. Oh, so handsome and straight, and fair—who would think it now? And Rosa, she was dying for him. Oh, she would have him! What she wills ever comes to pass. It were better she had never seen him. It is not always lucky to have one's wishes granted—and the omens were bad. His cousin's debts chained him here, but his heart was in Europe. All his thoughts are there still—he changeth not. You know the proverb—'Bury a dog's tail for twenty years, it will still be crooked.'"