nst this, for she
had not been so well for a day or two, and he feared the fatigue; but
she, too, had a curiosity to see the gipsies, and protested that she
could do well enough. If they had any fears, Zillah should go with us;
and if she got weary, the carriage could take them back to the hotel,
and return.

"No one objected to this arrangement, which delighted Zillah
inexpressibly. The girl had been out a good deal since her arrival,
especially after the fair commenced. Once or twice I had seen her come
in with traces of strange excitement in her face and manner. She gave no
account of herself, when questioned, more than to say she had been out
to see the town; but I, who watched her closely in spite of myself, saw
that she was pale, silent and preoccupied, for hours after these
excursions.

"This morning she came to me in a quiet, mysterious manner, which seemed
to spring out of suppressed excitement, and hesitating like a bashful
child, asked me to give her a little money. She wanted to buy some
ribbons for her hair, she said, but hated to ask the master or mistress
for money. The Spanish servants had a way of braiding the hair down the
back, and knotting it with bows of ribbon. She wanted to surprise the
mistress by the length of her own hair, that was why she came to me for
money.

"I gave her a napoleon, and in doing so my hand touched hers. It was
cold as snow, and shook nervously as I laid the gold in her palm. This
agitation surprised me, and I looked suddenly in her face to read the
cause there; but her eyes were cast down, and, but for a cold whiteness
about the mouth, I should have seen but little difference from her usual
manner.

"'Zillah,' I said, 'what is the matter that you look so white?'

"She started and cast a frightened look upon me, while a rush of crimson
swept her face like a stormy sunset.

"'So white?' she stammered. 'Do I look white?' Then she added quickly,
with a faded smile, so evidently forced that it was unpleasant to me,
'Miss Mabel forgets how ill I have been; I am not strong yet, and it
doesn't take much to tire me--I suppose I ran down stairs too quick.'

"She slipped the gold I had given her into her bosom, and thanking me
again for it, started away down the corridor. I had risen and was moving
to the door, intending to go to Mrs. Harrington's room to speak to her
for a moment, when Zillah came back.

"'Miss Mabel,' she said, speaking like a person who had been running, '