The party then progressed slowly homewards, and once more entered the dark wood. They were much more silent now; the wood was darker, and the chill which foretells the dawn was making itself felt in the air. Either the sense of cold, or a certain effect produced by Annie’s ridiculous stories, made many of the little party unduly nervous.
They had only taken a few steps through the wood when Phyllis suddenly uttered a piercing shriek. This shriek was echoed by Nora and by Mary Morris, and all their hearts seemed to leap into their mouths when they saw something move among the trees. Rover uttered a growl, and, but for Annie’s detaining hand, would have sprung forward. The high-spirited girl was not to be easily daunted.
“Behold, girls, the goblin of the woods,” she exclaimed. “Quiet, Rover; stand still.”
The next instant the fears of the little party reached their culmination when a tall, dark figure stood directly in their paths.
“If you don’t let us pass at once,” said Annie’s voice, “I’ll set Rover at you.”
The dog began to bark loudly, and quivered from head to foot.
The figure moved a little to one side, and a rather deep and slightly dramatic voice said—
“I mean you no harm, young ladies; I’m only a gypsy-mother from the tents yonder. You are welcome to get back to Lavender House. I have then one course plain before me.”
“Come on, girls,” said Annie, now considerably frightened, while Phyllis, and Nora, and one or two more began to sob.
“Look here, young ladies,” said the gypsy in a whining voice, “I don’t mean you no harm, my pretties, and it’s no affair of mine telling the good ladies at Lavender House what I’ve seen. You cross my hand, dears, each of you, with a bit of silver, and all I’ll do is to tell your pretty fortunes, and mum is the word with the gypsy-mother as far as this night’s prank is concerned.”