Beyond The Blue Mountains - Plaidy Jean (бесплатные онлайн книги читаем полные .TXT) 📗

There was plenty of time, thought Carolan, and meanwhile the bread and cheese were delicious and she was hungry; the ale was cool and refreshing, and she was thirsty.

“A warm day,” said the woman, and Carolan noticed that the maid had slipped out and they were alone.

“Very warm,” agreed Carolan, ‘but the ale is cool!”

“Ah! Indeed.” She was a tall woman with white hair, very dark eyes and a pleasant smile. Carolan warmed to her, for there was something in the very vastness of the City that chilled her, and it was good to discover so soon that its people were friendly.

“You travelled by the coach, my dear, did you not?”

Carolan nodded.

“And you have come far?”

“From Exeter.”

The woman smiled.

That is a long journey for one so young… and forgive me if I say it… so beautiful.”

“Oh!” said Carolan, protesting but well pleased.

“You flatter!”

“Not II Have you looked in the glass recently? There is one!”

The maid came in with the ale. The woman paid and sat back in her chair sipping the beverage.

“As you say, it is cool enough!”

The maid left them. The grandfather clock in the corner ticked loudly, and every now and then Carolan could hear distant voices crying wares. It was indeed pleasant in the old inn parlour, with the adventure well-nigh over and so successfully carried out, and the glass on the sideboard showing Carolan her reflection and assuring her that though the woman had exaggerated a little, there was some truth in her words.

A smile appeared about the woman’s mouth as she watched the girl’s smiling at her own reflection.

“You are visiting relations?”

“I am going home… to my parents …”

“Ah! Then you know London well?”

“No. I have been living in the country__not with my parents.

Now I have come home to them.”

“They were to be here to meet you perhaps?”

“Oh, no … It is a surprise visit. They will not be here to meet me.”

The woman watched her speculatively.

“You have a lucky face,” she said.

“A lucky face?”

“Indeed you have! As soon as my eyes fell on you, I knew good fortune awaited you.”

“But how could you know that?”

“There are some of us to whom such knowledge comes.”

“Do you mean… you are a fortuneteller?”

“Oh, come! Do I look that sort? A lady does not call herself a fortuneteller; that suggests a gipsy, does it not, one who must have her palm crossed with silver before she will ply her trade?”

Hot blood rushed into Carolan’s face.

“I am very sorry… I should have known.”

The woman threw back her head and laughed. Her teeth flashed. Carolan caught a glimpse of gold earrings.

“Bless you, my dear,” said the woman, “I did not mean to embarrass you. In a measure you are right; nature does not discriminate when she bestows her gifts. I can see into the future; only… I do not ply my accomplishment as a trade.”

“I… see…”

“Ah! But not so clearly as I see a wonderful fortune for you!”

Carolan was breathless, eager, lips parted, eyes shining; her hood fell back from her glowing hair.

“You can see that for me?”

There is mystery about you.”

Carolan blushed; she was sure the woman knew that she had run away.

“Are you by any chance going to join your lover?”

Carolan was silent. Very soon of course she would join Everard; perhaps it would be sooner than she expected.

“You are running away from your home,” went on the woman, her dark eyes shining with prophecy. I see you are greatly loved.”

“You are indeed clever!” said Carolan.

“I will tell you what I will do. I will read your palm; that will tell me more than your face. Come and sit nearer me, my dear. No! I will join you on the window seat.”

Wonderful things could happen to you if you were bold and took from life what you wanted; that was what Carolan was learning. How much older she was now than the girl who had left Haredon but a few days ago! How much wiser than Margaret who would never undertake such an adventure! The kindness of people! The merchant’s wife who had befriended her; this lady, who, for no payment at all, would tell her fortune, and just because she had a lucky face!

She sat on the window seat beside Carolan. She smelt of musk.

“Give me your palm, my dear. There! Why, what a little hand! A pretty little hand; and scarcely any hard work has this little hand been forced to do. Perhaps it has gripped a pair of reins, eh? Ah! You lived quietly in the country, did you not? And a little pet among those with whom you lived. There is much love in your life, child. And in the country you met your lover.” A very long thin finger touched Carolan’s palm.

“And there was some disagreement, eh, some little bit of trouble? Disapproval of the match from those who loved you and wanted to keep you with them a little longer?”

Carolan was red and white by turns, for surely she was in the presence of a seer! So it was all written there, was it? Everything that had happened to her.

The woman’s fingers closed about her hand.

“Never fear, all will be well. Very soon you will be a wife. Do not be dissuaded from true romance. It is a headstrong little girl you are fond of your own way. Am I not right? Already you know something of the charm those green eyes hold. Well, well, that is natural. One thing, my dear, do not be so ready to trust those around you. I think perhaps you are over-trusting.”

Carolan’s eyes were dreamy. It was true, absolutely true. How readily she had trusted Charles at the first show of friendship. How innocently had she believed in the fatherly affection of the squire! London was indeed an enchanting place; how glad she was that she had come! How wise she had been!

“Thank you!” she murmured.

“Thank you!”

The lady’s laughter rang out and echoed in the rafters of the inn parlour.

“Do not thank me, my child. Thank fate that gave you you beauty and your charm.”

“You should not say such things,” protested Carolan, longing for the lady to repeat them.

“They are not really true.”

“So you doubt my word ?”

“Oh… no… no! I know you are speaking the truth… about what is happening, but__’ “Ah! So modest? Or not so modest, eh? Which is it?”

And the keen black eyes seemed to look right through Carolan, making her blush for very shame.

“But, my child,” said the lady, ‘you must not think I am laughing at you. If I laugh it is because there is something beautiful about youth and innocence. How I hope that your dearest wish will be granted! Come, I will see what I can do to give you that wish. Give me your hand. See! I will hold your wrist lightly, thus. Now close your eyes. Keep them fast shut until I say you may open them. Now wish. Just repeat the wish over to yourself-not aloud. None but yourself must know your dearest wish. There! Have you said it to yourself? Then say it again. Your dearest wish. Open your eyes. Perhaps now it will come.”

Carolan opened her eyes. She was still saying to herself: “Let Everard come at once to me in London. Let him leave everything and come!”

“Your wish will come true,” said her kind friend.

“I know your wish will come true.”

“You are so kind to me, I do not know how to thank you!”

“It is not I who am kind it is life. And I do not like thanks.”

She drained off her ale.

“You are going?” said Carolan, disappointed.

“I must be on my way. Goodbye, my child, and one word more before I go. Guard that impulsive nature of yours. Do not be so ready to trust. Remember that, will you, my dear, and little can go wrong with you, for you have a high good spirit, and it is such as you that Life loves. But remember not too trustful!”

“I will remember,” said Carolan.

“And you are right, wonderfully right. I shall never forget you.”

“No, my dear, I do not think you will. Our meeting must have been ordained. I feel it here.” She touched her bosom, and a smile that was oddly mischievous sat upon her face.