CHAPTER VI AFTERNOON
“A gypsy camp!” Arthur repeated. “Sure I’d love to go.”
“Gypsies!” Laura shrank a little. “I think I’d be scared of gypsies.”
“You wouldn’t be scared of these gypsies,” Maida promised. “I’ve known them ever since I was a little girl. I am very fond of them.”
“Well let’s go,” Arthur said, shifting from one foot to another in impatient excitement.
The procession started again.
“Tell us more about the gypsies, Maida,” Arthur demanded at once.
“There isn’t very much to tell, except that they’ve come here every summer ever since I can remember and, indeed, long before I was born. Father has always permitted them to camp on this ground, rent free. I don’t seem to remember much about them when I was very little, except that I used to go and buy baskets with Granny Flynn and they always told Granny’s fortune. ‘Cross my palm with silver,’ they say. That means, ‘Put some money in my hand!’”
“How many are there?” Dicky enquired.