“Me for the Gypsy maiden!” sang out Blake. “I’m first!” cried Phil. “No, I’m going to see what the fateful future holds for me,” asserted Jack. “I want to see if I’m going to pass my exams.” “Boys, be quiet!” commanded Mabel. “Girls, shall we do it—just for fun?” and she appealed to her chums. “Of course I don’t believe anything in it, but she may make a little diversion for us.” “Just as if _we_ didn’t try,” complained Blake. “Come on, fellows, we’ll leave ’em to their own destruction.” “If they’re going to have a fair Gypsy maiden in I want to hear what she says,” declared Jack. “As if we would let you!” exclaimed Natalie. “Do have her, Mabel,” urged Alice. “That is if your mother won’t object.” “I don’t believe she will. I’ll ask her. Tell the Gypsy girl to wait, Jennie,” and Mabel hurried up to the sitting room where Mrs. Anderson was reading. “What a lark!” exclaimed Jack. “I wonder if she’s pretty?” “All Gypsy girls are,” declared Phil, “some more than others.” “I admire your taste,” mocked his sister. “Mother says it’s all right,” announced Mabel, hurrying back. “We’ll have her in here, and you boys will have to behave.” “Did we ever do otherwise?” demanded Phil, pretending indignation. At the sight of the Gypsy, who followed the maid into the library, Natalie and Mabel exchanged glances. She was the same girl they had seen on the street that afternoon. “Do you tell fortunes?” asked Mabel. “Yes, lady,” and the Nomad made a bow. Then she looked calmly at the faces of those surrounding her. She seemed clean and neat, and even the half-admiring, if a little too bold glances of the boys, did not disconcert her. She was really pretty, a fact which Marie whispered to Natalie. “Aren’t you afraid to be out so late?” went on Mabel. “It is hardly dark yet—and who would harm a Gypsy maiden?” was the somewhat enigmatical answer. “What do you charge for fortunes?” asked Mabel. “Only twenty-five cents when I go from house to house. Though at our camp Neezar, our Queen, charges fifty and sometimes a dollar, for a very long fortune.” “Have you really a Queen?” asked Alice. “Certainly, lady,” spoke the Gypsy, and though her tones were a trifle coarse, her language was more correct than that of some school girls. “I guess we’ll try the twenty-five cent fortunes,” suggested Alice. “What is your name?” “I am called Hadee,” was the answer. “I’ll go a dollar’s worth of fortune, Hadee,” whispered Jack. “Be quiet,” ordered his sister. “Will you tell them out here—where we all can listen?” asked Marie. “No indeed—I don’t want any one to hear mine!” exclaimed Natalie, quickly. “It is not done so,” explained the Gypsy. “Each one has her own fortune—it is for herself alone. I will not tell them in public,” and she seemed determined. “I guess that would be better,” agreed Mabel. “We can go, one at a time, into this little room off the library. Who’ll be first.” “Let me!” begged each of the boys.