Free The Mask of the Enchantress by Victoria Holt Page A

hope, Anabel,she went on, hat you will behave with decorum and not upset Jessamy.
    h yes, Aunt Amy Jane, I will and I won.
    I felt an irresistible desire to giggle, which I am afraid came to me quite frequently in the presence of a number of people.
    My aunt seemed to sense this. She said in a low funereal voice: lways remember what your mother would wish.
    I was on the point of saying that I was not sure what my mother would wish, for I was argumentative by nature, and I could never resist the temptation to get a point cleared up. I had heard from some of the servants at Seton Hall that my mother had not been at all the saint Aunt Amy Jane was turning her into. My aunt seemed to have forgotten that she had been so headstrong in making a marriage with a poor curate. The servants said that Miss Susan Ellen had been bit of a caution. Always got a finger in some pie and making a joke of it. Come to think of it, Miss Anabel, youe the spitting image of her.That was damning enough.
    Well, I went to the musical evening in Jessamy watered silk, which was really very beautiful. Jessamy said: es, you look prettier in it than I did, Anabel.
    She was a sweet girl, Jessamy was, which makes what I did to her all the more reprehensible. I led her into constant mischief. There was the affair of the gypsies, which will give you a good idea of what I mean.
    We were forbidden to walk in the woods alone, but the very fact that the woods were out of bounds made them specially fascinating to me.
    Jessamy did not want to go. She was the sort of girl who liked to do exactly what she was told; she saw it all as for her own good. Heaven knew that was the explanation given to us often enough. I was exactly the opposite; and I took a great delight in trying to prove which was the strongery powers of persuasion or Jessamy desire to keep to the paths of righteousness.
    I invariably won because I went on worrying her until I did. So at length I persuaded her to venture into the woods where some gypsies were camping. We could have a quick look, I said, and go away before they saw us.
    The fact that there were gypsies in the woods made it all the more important that we should not venture into them. However, I was determined and I taunted Jessamy with cowardice so mercilessly that at length she agreed to accompany me.
    We came to a caravan. There was a fire smoking nearby with a pot boiling on it. It smelled quite good. Seated on the steps of the caravan was a woman in a torn red shawl and with brass rings in her ears. She was a typical gypsy, with a tangle of black hair and big sparkling dark eyes.
    ood day to you, pretty ladies,she cried out when she saw us.
    ood day,I replied, gripping Jessamy arm, for I had a feeling she was going to turn and run.
    on be shy,said the woman. y! You are two fine little ladies. I reckon there a bonny fortune waiting for you.
    I was enthralled by the prospect of looking into the future. I always have been. I could never then and cannot now resist a fortuneteller.
    ome on, Jessamy,I said, dragging her forward.
    think we ought to go back,she whispered.
    ome on,I said, holding her firmly. She did not like to protest. She was afraid it might seem ill-mannered towards the gypsies. Jessamy was always considering what was good and bad manners, and she was terrified of committing the latter.
    ow you two has come from the big house, I reckon,said the woman.
    he has,I told her. from the vicarage.
    h, holy, holy,said the woman. Her eyes were on Jessamy, who was wearing a fine gold chain with a gold locket in the shape of a heart attached to it. ell, my pretty,she went on, sure youe got a good fortune waiting for you.
    ave I?I asked, holding out my hand.
    She took it. oul be the one who makes her own fortune.
    oesn everybody?I asked.
    h, clever, are you? I see. Yes, we do with a little help from fate, eh? Youe got a great future, you have. Youl meet a tall dark stranger and youl sail across the seas. And gold yes, I see gold. Oh, youe got