ung gentleman burst into indignant speech.

"Gertrude, I can bear it no longer. Not even for you, not even for the
chance of getting Christian back. It's empty swagger to say that I wish
to GOD I'd the chance of giving my life to get him back for
you. But you must come home now. I've bitten my lip through in holding
my tongue, but I won't see you kneel another minute at the feet of that
sulky old gipsy hag."

Whilst he was speaking the tinker-mother had risen to her feet, and when
she stood quite upright she was much taller than I had thought. The
young gentleman had moved to take his cousin by the hand, but the old
woman waved him back.

"Stay where you are, young gentleman," she said. "This is no matter for
boys to mix and meddle in. Sybil, my daughter--Sybil, I say! Come and
stand near me, for I gets confused at times, and I fears I may not
explain myself to the noble gentlewoman with all the respect that I
could wish. She says a great deal that is very true, my daughter, and
she has no vulgar insolence in her manners of speaking. I thinks I shall
let her do as she says, if we can get Christian out, which perhaps, if
she is cousin to any of the justiciary, she may be able to do.

"The poor tinker-folk returns you the deepest of obligations, my gentle
lady. If she'll let me see him when I wants to, it will be best, my
daughter; for I thinks I am failing, and I shouldn't like to leave him
with George and that drunken slut.

"I thinks I am failing, I say. Trouble and age and the lone company of
your own thoughts, my noble gentlewoman, has a tendency to confuse you,
though I was always highly esteemed for the facility of my speech,
especially in the telling of fortunes.

"Let the poor gipsy look into your white hand, my pretty lady. The lines
of life are somewhat broken with trouble, but they joins in peace.
There's a dark young gentleman with a great influence on your happiness,
and I sees grandchildren gathered at your knees.

"What did the lady snatch away her hand for, my daughter? I means no
offence. She shall have Christian. I have told her so. Tell him to get
ready and go before his father gets back. He's a bad 'un is my son
George, and I knows now that she was far too good for him.

"Come a little nearer, my dear, that I may touch you. I sees your face
so often, when I knows you can't be there, that it pleases me to be able
to feel you. I was afraid you bore me ill-will for selling Christian;
but I bough