as customers wanted them. The
young girls of the tribe hovered around the doors of the tents, or were
grouped in a larger tent, dancing for money, at the behest of any
stranger who cared to amuse himself by their wild and eccentric
movements.

"We were told that these dances were not always such as ladies would
care to witness, and so avoided the great tent, and gave ourselves up to
the swarms of women who were eager to tell our fortunes, or steal our
purses, as the case might be. In the midst of this confusion, Mrs.
Harrington took hold of my arms in a wild, agitated way, whispering that
she was tired, and would like to go home.

"I looked around for Zillah, but she had disappeared, and the gentlemen,
just at the moment, were out of sight.

"'Sit here,' I said, leading Mrs. Harrington into one of the tents,
'while I go in search of some one who can tell me where the carriage
is.'

"Mrs. Harrington sat down, white and faint, both Mrs. Eaton and her
daughter came to her and offered help. I left Lucy fanning the gentle
lady, and went into the lane in search of Zillah, though her mistress,
made a faint effort to prevent it. As I turned a corner of the lane, two
women who stood a little apart from the road, near the back of one of
the tents, struck me as familiar. They stood upon the turf, and were
talking earnestly. One held something in her hand, which she looked down
upon, now and then, as she talked. After a moment, I became sure that
one of these persons was Zillah, and went toward her. The turf on which
I walked gave forth no sound, and I moved close to the girl before she
could be aware of my presence. That moment a small phial passed from the
hand of that old gipsy woman to that of Zillah, who held the little
flask up to the light, and examined it curiously, speaking in a quick,
abrupt way, in Spanish.

"I could not distinguish the meaning, she spoke so rapidly. When the
gipsy answered, I caught the word _Droa_, uttered under the breath two
or three times. The woman seemed to be giving some directions; she spoke
almost in a whisper, and I saw the long bony hand clutch Zillah's arm,
as if to impress what she was saying more forcibly upon the girl's
attention. Then I saw Zillah hand the piece of gold I had given her that
morning, to the woman, while she asked other questions in a whisper.

"'Zillah!'

"The girl fairly leaped from the ground, and uttered a sharp scream, as
if I had struck her to the heart.