第40部分(第3/7 页)

　prayer…book；　by　the　light　of　the　blaze：　she　muttered　the　words　to　herself；　as　most　old　women　do；　while　she　read；　she　did　not　desist　immediately　on　my　entrance：　it　appeared　she　wished　to　finish　a　paragraph。

I　stood　on　the　rug　and　warmed　my　hands；　which　were　rather　cold　with　sitting　at　a　distance　from　the　drawing…room　fire。　I　felt　now　as　posed　as　ever　I　did　in　my　life：　there　was　nothing　indeed　in　the　gipsy’s　appearance　to　trouble　one’s　calm。　She　shut　her　book　and　slowly　looked　up；　her　hat…brim　partially　shaded　her　face；　yet　I　could　see；　as　she　raised　it；　that　it　was　a　strange　one。　It　looked　all　brown　and　black：　elf…locks　bristled　out　from　beneath　a　white　band　which　passed　under　her　chin；　and　came　half　over　her　cheeks；　or　rather　jaws：　her　eye　confronted　me　at　once；　with　a　bold　and　direct　gaze。

“Well；　and　you　want　your　fortune　told？”　she　said；　in　a　voice　as　decided　as　her　glance；　as　harsh　as　her　features。

“I　don’t　care　about　it；　mother；　you　may　please　yourself：　but　I　ought　to　warn　you；　I　have　no　faith。”

“It’s　like　your　impudence　to　say　so：　I　expected　it　of　you；　I　heard　it　in　your　step　as　you　crossed　the　threshold。”

“Did　you？　You’ve　a　quick　ear。”

“I　have；　and　a　quick　eye　and　a　quick　brain。”

“You　need　them　all　in　your　trade。”

“I　do；　especially　when　I’ve　customers　like　you　to　deal　with。　Why　don’t　you　tremble？”

“I’m　not　cold。”

“Why　don’t　you　turn　pale？”

“I　am　not　sick。”

“Why　don’t　you　consult　my　art？”

“I’m　not　silly。”

The　old　crone　“nichered”　a　laugh　under　her　bon　and　bandage；　she　then　drew　out　a　short　black　pipe；　and　lighting　it　began　to　smoke。　Having　indulged　a　while　in　this　sedative；　she　raised　her　bent　body；　took　the　pipe　from　her　lips；　and　while　gazing　steadily　at　the　fire；　s