"Yes, said she sang very well."
"Did she? What becoming modesty."
"She was natural, that's all. Her father told her she was good, and she repeated it."
"Her father? I didn't know that gipsies were always certain on these points. Did you see him?"
"Oh, yes, spoke to him; at least, listened to his music."
"His music?" Darwen made a motion of turning a handle.
"Oh, no; the violin. I'm not much of an authority on these things, but it seemed to me good, exceedingly good, the best I'd heard."
"This is interesting. Couldn't you introduce me to the family?"
"No. For the sake of my peace of mind I shall have to avoid that girl like the very devil."
"My dear chap! probably St James, the footman, has already supplanted you in the lady's affections. Wonderfully fascinating chaps, those footmen. By the way, it's not usual for gipsies to go into domestic service, is it?"