第39部分(第4/7 页)

nced　to　open　the　door；　asked　for　more　coal　to　be　put　on　the　fire；　which　had　burnt　out　its　flame；　though　its　mass　of　cinder　still　shone　hot　and　red。　The　footman　who　brought　the　coal；　in　going　out；　stopped　near　Mr。　Eshton’s　chair；　and　said　something　to　him　in　a　low　voice；　of　which　I　heard　only　the　words；　“old　e。”

“Tell　her　she　shall　be　put　in　the　stocks　if　she　does　not　take　herself　off；”　replied　the　magistrate。

“No—stop！”　interrupted　Colonel　Dent。　“Don’t　send　her　away；　Eshton；　we　might　turn　the　thing　to　account；　better　consult　the　ladies。”　And　speaking　aloud；　he　continued—“Ladies；　you　talked　of　going　to　Hay　mon　to　visit　the　gipsy　camp；　Sam　here　says　that　one　of　the　old　Mother　Bunches　is　in　the　servants’　hall　at　this　moment；　and　insists　upon　being　brought　in　before　‘the　quality；’　to　tell　them　their　fortunes。　Would　you　like　to　see　her？”

“Surely；　colonel；”　cried　Lady　Ingram；　“you　would　not　encourage　such　a　low　impostor？　Dismiss　her；　by　all　means；　at　once！”

“But　I　cannot　persuade　her　to　go　away；　my　lady；”　said　the　footman；　“nor　can　any　of　the　servants：　Mrs。　Fairfax　is　with　her　just　now；　entreating　her　to　be　gone；　but　she　has　taken　a　chair　in　the　chimney…　er；　and　says　nothing　shall　stir　her　from　it　till　she　gets　leave　to　e　in　here。”

“What　does　she　want？”　asked　Mrs。　Eshton。

“‘To　tell　the　gentry　their　fortunes；’　she　says；　ma’am；　and　she　swears　she　must　and　will　do　it。”

“What　is　she　like？”　inquired　the　Misses　Eshton；　in　a　breath。

“A　shockingly　ugly　old　creature；　miss；　almost　as　black　as　a　crock。”

“Why；　she’s　a　real　sorceress！”　cried　Frederick　Lynn。　“Let　us　have　her　in；　of　course。”

“To　be　sure；”　rejoined　his　brother；　“it　would　be　a　thousand　pities　to　throw　away　such　a　chance　of　fun。”

“My　dear　boys；　what　a