“Money, money!” cried Mollie excitedly.
“What is the matter with you, child?” said Miss Sallie, startled into finding her voice at last.
“Didn’t you see it?” said Mollie. “It was a splendid shooting star. It had a tail that reached halfway across the heavens. Don’t you know that, if you remember to say ‘money, money, money,’ before it fades out of sight or goes wherever it disappears to——”
“‘Oh, mother, where do the shooting stars go’?” laughed Ruth, breaking in upon Mollie—“you will inherit a large sum of money,” continued Mollie.
“We shall be sleeping at the feet of an heiress, then,” said Bab. “Or did the star fade out before you had finished, Molliekins?”
“I don’t know,” replied Mollie. “I was so excited that I forgot to look.”
By this time tea was ready and a rug had been spread in front of the tent for the guests to sit upon. Miss Sallie with her air cushion between her shoulders and the trunk of a tree that spread its branches over the tent, was beginning to feel that life, after all, held a number of pleasant things, including a certain favorite blend of tea that was as delicious, fragrant and expensive as heart could wish.
The night breeze touched their faces gently, and the stillness and sweet scents of the woods soothed them into forgetfulness of their troubles. While they sipped their tea and talked, in subdued voices, of the mystery of the forest at night, the Gypsy girl crept up and gazed curiously, almost wistfully, at them.
“Do have some chocolate,” called Ruth, as she held the box toward the girl. “Come over and sit down, won’t you? What is your name?”
“My name is Zerlina,” replied the Gypsy, as she nibbled gingerly at a piece of chocolate.