O, bless me! What can I think of this naughty, this very
naughty gentleman!--Now will I hate him most heartily. Thus it was:--
Mrs. Jewkes had no suspicion of the woman, the iron gate being locked,
and she on the outside, and we on the inside; and so put her hand
through. She said, muttering over a parcel of cramp words; Why, madam,
you will marry soon, I can tell you. At that she seemed pleased, and
said, I am glad to hear that; and shook her fat sides with laughing. The
woman looked most earnestly at me, all the time, and as if she had
meaning. Then it came into my head, from my master's caution, that
possibly this woman might be employed to try to get a letter into my
hands; and I was resolved to watch all her motions. So Mrs. Jewkes said,
What sort of a man shall I have, pray?--Why, said she, a man younger than
yourself; and a very good husband he'll prove.--I am glad of that, said
she; and laughed again. Come, madam, let us hear your fortune.
The woman came to me, and took my hand. O! said she, I cannot tell your
fortune: your hand is so white and fine, I cannot see the lines: but,
said she, and, stooping, pulled up a little tuft of grass, I have a way
for that; and so rubbed my hand with the mould part of the tuft: Now,
said she, I can see the lines.
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