gypsies who would tell your fortune.
On this occasion Miss Prentiss had a headache and my mother asked Grace Gilmore if she would take us so that we should not be disappointed. She accepted with alacrity, and we set off.
We had a wonderful time roaming among the stalls. We visited two of the shows and marveled at the rippling muscles of the strong man and tried our hand at the hoopla; we bought slabs of hot gingerbread, eating it as we went along, which Grace was not sure we should have been allowed to do.
Jack assured her that people could do things at a fair which they could not do elsewhere. He was more excited than Morwenna and I were. I suppose we were a little blasé.
Fiddlers were playing and several people were dancing.
“The most exciting part is when it gets dark,” I said, “and then they light the flares.”
“Your mother will want you home long before that,” Grace told us.
“I should like to have my fortune told,” said Morwenna. “Ginny, our parlormaid, had hers told at Summercourt Fair. She is going to marry a rich man and travel overseas. It was a wonderful fortune.”
“How can they tell?” asked Jack.
“They can see into the future … and into the past,” Morwenna replied. “They can see all you’ve done. It’s all clear to them. It’s all in your hand, particularly if you’ve done something wicked. That’s easiest to see.”
Jack looked uneasy, but Morwenna clasped her hands and said: “Oh, I wish we could.”
I thought: It’s all very well for you. You have never done anything except cheat at lessons a bit … copying out something from a book which you’re supposed to know … taking a jam tart from the kitchen when the cook’s back is turned and saying you didn’t. Little sins … nothing like killing a man and hiding his body.
The pleasure of the fair had gone. That was how it was. Memory came up suddenly … as that man had come to the pool … and the pleasure in the day was spoilt.
I was glad when Grace said there was no time to have our fortunes told. She said: “We must start for home now.”
And we left the fair. As we walked away the sound of the fiddlers grew fainter but we could hear them singing:
Come lasses and lads
Get leave of your dads
And away to the maypole hie
For every he has got him a she
And a fiddler standing by …
Jack was disappointed at leaving the fair. He had expressed his displeasure and demanded to know why we could not stay. Grace explained that we must get back before dark. Jack never sulked for long and in a few minutes he was himself again. He had a very lovable nature.
The gypsy was sitting by the side of the road. She had a basket full of clothes pegs beside her and I was not sure whether she was coming from or going to the fair.
“Good day to ’ee, ladies and little gent,” she said.
“Good day,” we replied.
“How would you like the gypsy to give you a nice fortune?”
I heard Morwenna murmur: “Oh yes. Oh, Miss Gilmore, may I?”
Grace hesitated, but Morwenna turned such a happy face to her that she was unable to resist.
“All right then, dear. But we mustn’t stay long.”
“Cross the gypsy’s hand in silver,” said the woman.
Morwenna drew back. “Oh … I don’t think I have enough.” She produced some coins.
“Well, seeing as you be such a nice little lady, I’ll take what you’ve got. Wouldn’t want to disappoint a little love like you.”
Morwenna dimpled prettily and held out her hand.
“Oh, I see a long and happy life. You’re going to have great good fortune, you are. You’re going up to London to see the Queen … when you’re a little older, that is … and there you are going to find a rich husband and live happy ever after.”
It seemed very little for all the money Morwenna had left; and I knew she had wanted to buy a pink sugar mouse and had hesitated because she had thought it too costly. It was very likely that Morwenna might go up to London for a season when she grew
On this occasion Miss Prentiss had a headache and my mother asked Grace Gilmore if she would take us so that we should not be disappointed. She accepted with alacrity, and we set off.
We had a wonderful time roaming among the stalls. We visited two of the shows and marveled at the rippling muscles of the strong man and tried our hand at the hoopla; we bought slabs of hot gingerbread, eating it as we went along, which Grace was not sure we should have been allowed to do.
Jack assured her that people could do things at a fair which they could not do elsewhere. He was more excited than Morwenna and I were. I suppose we were a little blasé.
Fiddlers were playing and several people were dancing.
“The most exciting part is when it gets dark,” I said, “and then they light the flares.”
“Your mother will want you home long before that,” Grace told us.
“I should like to have my fortune told,” said Morwenna. “Ginny, our parlormaid, had hers told at Summercourt Fair. She is going to marry a rich man and travel overseas. It was a wonderful fortune.”
“How can they tell?” asked Jack.
“They can see into the future … and into the past,” Morwenna replied. “They can see all you’ve done. It’s all clear to them. It’s all in your hand, particularly if you’ve done something wicked. That’s easiest to see.”
Jack looked uneasy, but Morwenna clasped her hands and said: “Oh, I wish we could.”
I thought: It’s all very well for you. You have never done anything except cheat at lessons a bit … copying out something from a book which you’re supposed to know … taking a jam tart from the kitchen when the cook’s back is turned and saying you didn’t. Little sins … nothing like killing a man and hiding his body.
The pleasure of the fair had gone. That was how it was. Memory came up suddenly … as that man had come to the pool … and the pleasure in the day was spoilt.
I was glad when Grace said there was no time to have our fortunes told. She said: “We must start for home now.”
And we left the fair. As we walked away the sound of the fiddlers grew fainter but we could hear them singing:
Come lasses and lads
Get leave of your dads
And away to the maypole hie
For every he has got him a she
And a fiddler standing by …
Jack was disappointed at leaving the fair. He had expressed his displeasure and demanded to know why we could not stay. Grace explained that we must get back before dark. Jack never sulked for long and in a few minutes he was himself again. He had a very lovable nature.
The gypsy was sitting by the side of the road. She had a basket full of clothes pegs beside her and I was not sure whether she was coming from or going to the fair.
“Good day to ’ee, ladies and little gent,” she said.
“Good day,” we replied.
“How would you like the gypsy to give you a nice fortune?”
I heard Morwenna murmur: “Oh yes. Oh, Miss Gilmore, may I?”
Grace hesitated, but Morwenna turned such a happy face to her that she was unable to resist.
“All right then, dear. But we mustn’t stay long.”
“Cross the gypsy’s hand in silver,” said the woman.
Morwenna drew back. “Oh … I don’t think I have enough.” She produced some coins.
“Well, seeing as you be such a nice little lady, I’ll take what you’ve got. Wouldn’t want to disappoint a little love like you.”
Morwenna dimpled prettily and held out her hand.
“Oh, I see a long and happy life. You’re going to have great good fortune, you are. You’re going up to London to see the Queen … when you’re a little older, that is … and there you are going to find a rich husband and live happy ever after.”
It seemed very little for all the money Morwenna had left; and I knew she had wanted to buy a pink sugar mouse and had hesitated because she had thought it too costly. It was very likely that Morwenna might go up to London for a season when she grew
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