Some of the gipsies standing round laughed at the boldness of the girl, and Billy reddened. "I'm not by way of takin' up with no Paddy," he said, and turned on his heel.
"Paddy is ut," cried the girl indignantly after him, "'faith now, and it wad be tellin' ye if ye could get a daycent single woman only half as good lookin' as me, to take as much notice av the likes o' ye as to kick ye out of her road!"
She turned away, calling over her shoulder to Cissy, "Can I tell your fortune, pretty lady?"
Quick as a flash, Cissy's answer came back.
"No, but I can tell yours!"
The girl stopped, surprised that a maid of the Gentiles should tell fortunes without glass balls, cards, or even looking at the lines of the hand.
"Tell it then," she said defiantly.
"You will live to marry Billy!" she said.
Then Lepronia Lovell laughed a short laugh, and said, "Never while there's a daycent scarecrow in the world will I set up a tent-stick along with the likes of Billy Blythe!"
But all the same she walked away very thoughtful, her basketful of tinware clattering at her back.