“No, indeed, madame, I am not, but I am proud to be the uncle of this little gypsy girl.” He placed his hand lovingly on the dark head. “Elenan is my sister’s child, but her father was Romola, one of the handsomest and most talented of gypsies.”
Then, that Robert and his mother might clearly understand, the story was retold from the beginning. The lad leaped forward, his hands outheld. “Oh Nan,” he cried, “how glad you are that after all you are a real gypsy.” Then he thought of something and turning toward the gentleman, he said in his frank, winning way. “Monsieur, Nan and I were to have been married soon. May we have your consent?”
The foreigner, although surprised and perhaps disappointed if he had hoped his sister’s daughter would return with him, was most gracious. “If the very kind woman with whom I find our Elenan has given her permission, I also give mine.”
There were sudden tears in the gentle eyes of the older woman. She had known of course, that some day these two would wed, but now, how could she live without Nan? Her hesitation was barely noticeable, then she said bravely. “I shall be proud, indeed, to have Robert Widdemere for a nephew.”
Nan, noting the quivering lips, took her benefactress by the hand as she said brightly; “Oh, Aunt Dahlia, what do you think? I forgot our Thanksgiving dinner.”
“But I didn’t forget it!” that little lady quite herself again replied. “Mrs. Sperry has been in our kitchen all of the morning, and here she comes now to announce that dinner is ready for us and our three most welcomed guests.”
Nan’s cup of joy seemed full to the over-flowing but the day held for her still another happiness.
CHAPTER XXXV.
AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL.
On Thanksgiving afternoon Robert again said, “Nan, comrade, can’t we be married tomorrow out under our very own pepper tree.”
“Son,” Mrs. Widdemere smilingly protested, “what an uncivilized suggestion for you to make.”