ened, the old one would never be found again.

Every drop of Czipra's blood wished that every drop of "that other's"
blood should change to tears.

This is how they awaited Melanie at Lankadomb.

Evening had not yet drawn in, when the carriage, which had been sent for
Melanie to Tiszafuered station, arrived.

The traveler did not wait till some one came to receive her; she stepped
out of the carriage unaided and found the verandah alone. Topandy met
her in the doorway. They embraced, and he led her into the lobby.

Czipra was waiting for her there.

The gypsy girl was wearing a pure white dress, white apron, and no
jewels at all. She had done her best to be simple, that she might
surprise that town girl. Of course, she might have been robed in silk
and lace, for she had enough and to spare.

Yet she ought to have known that the new-comer could not be stylishly
dressed, for she was in mourning.

Melanie had on the most simple black dress, without any decoration, only
round her neck and wrists were crochet lace trimmings.

She was just as simple as Czipra. Her beautiful pale face, with its
still childish features, her calm quiet look,--all beamed sympathy
around her.

"My daughter, Czipra," said Topandy, introducing them.

Melanie, with that graciousness which is the mark of all ladies, offered
her hand to the girl, and greeted her gently.

"Good evening, Czipra."

Czipra bitterly inquired:

"A foolish name, is it not?"

"On the contrary, the name of a goddess, Czipra."

"What goddess? Pagan?"--the idea did not please Czipra: she knit her
eyebrows and nodded in disapproval.

"A holy woman of the Bible was called by this name, Zipporah,[61] the
wife of Moses."

[Footnote 61: This play upon names is really only feasible in Magyar,
where Zipporah-Czippora.]

"Of the Bible?" The gypsy girl caught at the word, and looked with
flashing eyes at Topandy, as who would say "Do you hear that?"--Only
then did she take Melanie's hand, but after that she did not release her
hold of it any more.

"We must know much more of that holy woman of the Bible! Come with me. I
will show you your room."

Czipra remarked that they had kissed each other. Topandy shrugged his
shoulders, laughed, and let them go alone.

The newly arrived girl did not display the least embarrassment in her
dealing with Czipra: on the contrary, she behaved as if they had been
friends from childhood.

She at once addressed Czipra in the gr