Winifred laughed merrily as she replied-- "I am afraid I shall never be a very great lady." The gypsy curtsied as she answered-- "You are a very beautiful lady, and beauty is greatness." Then taking Winifred's hand in her own brown one she said-- "You will have good news when you return home--a letter from across the seas." "When?" asked Winifred. "To-night, or to-morrow; it is very near." "I hope so." "And there will be pleasure for you in it--a surprise; something I do not quite understand." "Then you cannot tell me the contents of my supposed letter," said Winifred banteringly. "No; that is hidden from me; but the writer loves you, as many will love you and fail, all but one." "And what of him?" asked Winifred softly. She knew it was all nonsense, but it was very sweet foolery and she loved to hear it. "He is a man who will prove worthy of you, and your life will be full of happiness. I wonder if he is the brave gentleman who helped me a year or two ago, when I saw him not very far from here. I had a sick child, and he gave me all the money he had with him and walked back to Brighton. He was a noble man, worthy of a great love." Winifred coloured as she said-- "I heard about it; he told me before he went to Australia." "Then it is the same?" said the woman. "May God bless you both." Winifred offered her money, and the gypsy eyed it greedily, but shook her head and said-- "No, kind lady, I do not want money for what I have told you." "But you have a little boy; take it for him." "Yes, I will take it for him." Winifred changed her mind, and gave her half a sovereign. The woman's gratitude was unbounded and she showered many blessings on Winifred's head as she went on her way. Winifred remained standing on the spot looking after her. She wondered if Jack would really come back with the fortune he said he went out to make. It mattered little to her whether he was rich or poor, but she wished him to succeed, and knew how he felt about it.