What should she do? To this question the answer came readily enough. One knows what to do with an anonymous letter; throw it in the fire and forget it; and how, than with scorn, could she treat a vague accusation or insinuation made by a vagabond gipsy against a man of Bartley Bradstone’s respectability—her future husband?
Her future husband! The sting lay in those significant words. Was it not her duty as his affianced bride, to tell him of the incident, and leave the matter in his hands? Yet how could she bring herself to do it? The woman’s interrupted communication might have referred to some past incident in Bartley Bradstone’s life with which she—Olivia—could have no concern, and she could scarcely go to him and demand his confidence, perhaps his confession of a past wrong—she who had, even since their betrothal, treated him with cold civility, and kept him at arm’s length.
No, she could take no notice of the woman’s warning; after all, it was probably a prelude to a request for money; these gypsies, she had always heard, were accomplished and daring beggars; an attempt to coax or extort money from her or Bartley was probably the woman’s only motive.
She sighed again, as she arrived at this decision, and put the matter from her mind.
“Are you rested now, miss?” said Bessie, gently.
“Yes, Bessie,” replied Olivia; “I am all right now. I am tired and—and I was frightened by meeting a gipsy outside the lodge.”
Bessie looked up quickly.
“Father was right, then, miss—there are some of them about. Father’s in the woodshed; shall I call him and tell him to look after them?”
“No, no,” said Olivia, quickly, with a slight flush; “they are far away by this time, I dare say. I haven’t been to see you for some time, Bessie,” she went on, hurriedly, changing the subject.
“No, miss,” said Bessie, softly. “But I didn’t expect—I knew you would have a great deal to do.” She faltered and colored. “I’ve heard the news, miss, and”—she dropped her work and clasped her hands, her eyes fixed with affectionate earnestness on Olivia’s pale face—“I do pray you may be happy!”