"
"You won't be offended, then, if I wish to ask you a question or two.
It's not about myself, but a sister of mine, who is--ahem--what the
censorious world is pleased to call an old maid."
"Why did your sister not come herself?" he asked; "I cannot predict
anything unless the individual is before me; I must have him or her, as
the case may be, under my eye."
"Bless me, sir! I didn't know that; but as I am now here--could you tell
me anything about myself?"
"I could tell you many things," replied the conjurer, who read old maid
in every line of her face--"many things not very pleasant for you to
reflect upon."
"O, but I don't wish to hear anything unpleasant," said she; "tell me
something that's agreeable."
"In the first place, I cannot do so," he replied; "I must be guided
by truth. You have, for instance, been guilty of great cruelty; and
although you are but a young woman, in the very bloom of life--"
Here the lady bowed to him, and simpered--her thin, red nose twisted
into a gracious curl, as thanking him for his politeness.
"In the very prime of life, madam--yet you have much to be accountable
for, in consequence of your very heartless cruelty to the male sex--you
see, madam, and you feel too, that I speak truth.
Pages:
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339