of
Wolterton and my mother was in a like way related to Thomas Pitt so you
see I have a right to my interest in the history of the home land,"
said John Irons.

"You have in your veins some of the best blood of England and so I am
sure that you must be a loyal subject of the King," Mrs. Hare remarked.

"No, because I think this German King has no share in the spirit of his
country," Irons answered. "Our ancient respect for human rights and
fair play is not in this man."

He presented his reasons for the opinion and while the woman made no
answer, she had heard for the first time the argument of the New World
and was impressed by it.

Late in the day they came out on a rough road, faring down into the
settled country and that night they stopped at a small inn. At the
supper table a wizened old woman was telling fortunes in a tea cup.

Miss Hare and her mother drained their cups and passed them to the old
woman. The latter looked into the cup of the young lady and
immediately her tongue began to rattle.

"Two ways lie before you," she piped in a shrill voice. "One leads to
happiness and many children and wealth and a long life. It is steep
and rough at the beginning and then it is smooth and peaceful. Yes.
It crosses the sea. The other way is smooth at the start and then it
grows steep and rough and in it I see tears and blood and dark clouds
and, do you see that?" she demanded with a look of excitement, as she
pointed into the cup. "It is a very evil thing. I will tell you no
more."

The wizened old woman rose and, with a determined look in her face,
left the room.

Mrs. Hare and her daughter seemed to be much troubled by the vision of
the fortune-teller.

"I hope you do not believe in that kind of rubbish," John Irons
remarked.

"I believe implicitly in the gift of second sight," said Mrs. Hare.
"In England women are so impatient to know their fortunes that they
will not wait upon Time, and the seers are prosperous."

"I have no faith in it," said Mr. Irons. "What she said might apply to
the future of any young person. Undoubtedly there are two ways ahead
of your daughter and perhaps more. Each must choose his own way wisely
or come to trouble. It is the ancient law."

They rode on next morning in a rough road between clearings in the
forest, the boy and girl being again together on the colt's back, she
in front.

"You did not have your fortune told," said Miss Margaret.

"It _has_ been