The woman changed her tone.
"I have asked you fairly, sir; and it will be better for you if you don't prosecute Reuben."
"Oh, nonsense, my good woman! Don't let me have any threats, or it will be worse for you."
"I tell you," the woman exclaimed, fiercely, "it will be the worse for you, if you appear against my Reuben."
"There, go out," Captain Ripon said, opening the front door of the hall. "As if I cared for your ridiculous threats! Your husband will get what he deserves--five years, if I am not mistaken."
"You will repent this," the gypsy said, as she passed out.
Captain Ripon closed the door after her, without a word.
"Well, who was it?" his wife inquired, when he returned to the drawing room.
"An insolent gypsy woman, wife of the man who stole the fowls. She had the impudence to threaten me, if I appeared against him."
"Oh, Robert!" the young wife exclaimed, apprehensively, "what could she do? Perhaps you had better not appear."