"Of course you gave it; but such a sum ought to have bought you a very handsome fortune."
"So the Sybil seemed to think, for she told me I was greatly beloved by a young lady with dark eyes."
Aveline trembled.
"You are cold; we will finish the fortune teller in the house."
"No, no—go on here."
"Let me lead him back to the garden, you forget I am responsible to Mrs. Fitzpatrick for your well-being. I will go on; though I did not know you were superstitious."
"Yes, I am, about gipsies."
"Well, I ventured to hint that these pleasing events always told better when there was a strong contrast between the parties; and that I should be obliged to the Sybil to furnish my young lady with blue eyes before she proceeded any farther. But my Zingara was not so accommodating, 'she did not like,' she said, 'to trifle with the stars; the dark eyed lady insisted on being attached to me. But, she would work me an incredible deal of woe.'"
"Ah!" cried Aveline raising her voice almost to a shriek, "what did she say. Tell me how—what came next?"
"I'll tell you what, Miss Fitzpatrick," said he leading the pony up the stony staircase, "when I was a great many years younger, I have sat up telling ghost stories at Christmas, until I was afraid to look behind me; but I never heard that this sport was good for an invalid. You are as much afraid of gipsies as I was of ghosts. We will talk of something else."