ince the world stood. She
saw 'twas Cedric that drank as deep as any, and could rip out oaths
as trippingly as his swollen tongue would allow; but he was neither
vulgar nor lewd. Janet looked with pride at his clear flushed face,
so handsomely featured; his jewelled hands and fine round legs that
tapered to slender ankles. 'Twould be a fine pair when he espoused her
mistress, and she would help him to it as soon as he liked. Her heart
went out to him the more when she saw he cared not for the favours
offered him by the dancing wenches as they touched his flowing black
curls with caressing hands. He turned upon his stomach on the table
and hid his face in his hands and remained thus until the candles were
again snuffed and a maid came out into the improvised moonlight in
gipsy dress and a fortune-teller's cup and wand. She wore a masque and
veil tight wrapped about her head. She danced with less skill than
any that had come before. She lisped forth 'twas her trade to tell
fortunes, and thereupon a fop reached forth and pulled her to him, and
she began a startling story that had somewhat of truth in it; and to
each one her assertions or predictions had so much of truth in them it
provoked interest among them all. Lord Cedric called from the table:

"The wench tells ear-splitting truths; send her here, she shall give
my pasht, present--and future." If they had not been so blinded by
wine, they might have noticed her haste to go to his bidding. She
looked closely at his hand and the sediment of his wine-cup.

"Thou art madly and blindly in love!" said she, lispingly.

"Good! good!" was sent forth from those about; and Cedric struck his
fist upon the table,--

"'Madly'--yes; but by God not 'blindly'! haste on, wench."

"She loves admiration--"

"She would not be half a woman if she--"

"She is in love with one of Russian birth," went on the gipsy. Cedric
frowned and held quiet. "There is one who hast loved thee from early
childhood--a--a kinswoman--she would make thee a noble spouse and love
thee well with a warm nature to match thine own."

"Thou tellest false, for I know not such an one. I have loved many
kinswomen since childhood, and they have loved me, but not to
espousal!"

"'Tis here--her name--'tis--C-o-n-s--"

"Constance, by God! but there thy lisping tongue prattles ill, for she
loves me as a brother, and I love her as if she were my sister." Now
the gipsy drew back as if the man before her had stricken