human
May I come in? asked the Cobbler, outside the door.
gpt
Certainly come in,
human
Will they not come? she whispered.
gpt
I hope so, pretty one; it be n't ten yet.
human
Take a pipe, Merle,
gpt
No, thank you kindly; I just looked in to ask if I could do anything for ye, in case--in case ye must go tomorrow.
human
Nothing: our luggage is small, and soon packed. Sophy has the money to discharge the meaner part of our debt to you.
gpt
I don't value that,
human
But we value your esteem, said Mr. Waife, with a smile that would have become a field-marshal.
gpt
And so, Merle, you think, if I am a broken-down vagrant, it must be put to the long account of the celestial bodies!
human
Not a doubt of it, returned the Cobbler, solemnly.
gpt
I wish you would give me date and place of Sophy's birth that's what I want; I'd take her horryscope. I'm sure she'd be lucky.
human
I'd rather not, please,
gpt
Rather not?--very odd. Why?
human
I don't want to know the future.
gpt
That is odder and odder, quoth the Cobbler, staring;
human
I never heard a girl say that afore.
gpt
Wait till she's older, Mr. Merle, said Waife:
human
Summat in that, said the Cobbler. He took up the crystal.
gpt
Have you looked into this ball, pretty one, as I bade ye?
human
Yes, two or three times.
gpt
Ha! and what did you see?
human
My own face made very long, said Sophy,--
gpt
Perhaps you will see if those two gentlemen are coming.
human
Do, do! and if they will give us three pounds!
gpt
Then you do care to know the future, after all?
human
Yes, so far as that goes; but don't look any further, pray.
gpt
A mist now. Ha! an arm with a besom--sweeps all before it.
human
Send it away, please.
gpt
It is gone. Ha! there's Rugge,--looks very angry,--savage, indeed.
human
Good sign that! proceed.
gpt
Shakes his fist; gone. Ha! a young man, boyish, dark hair.
human
That is the young gentleman--the very young one, I mean--with the kind eyes; is he coming?--is he, is he?
gpt
Examine his pockets! do you see there three pounds?
human
Don't be a-interrupting. Ha! he is talking with another gentleman, bearded.
gpt
The old young gentleman.
human
They are coming here; I see 'd them at the corner of the lane, by the public- house, two minutes' walk to this door. He took out a great silver watch:
gpt
Look, Sophy, when the minute-hand gets there (or before, if they walk briskly), you will hear them knock.
human
I wish for your sake she had the gift.
gpt
The gift!--the three pounds!--so do I!
human
Pooh! worth a hundred times three pounds; the gift,--the spirituous gift.
gpt
Spirituous! don't like the epithet,--smells of gin!
human
Spirituous gift to see in the crystal: if she had that, she might make your fortune.
gpt
Ah! I never thought of that. But if she has not the gift, I could teach it her,--eh?
human
I did not think to hear this from you, Mr. Waife. Teach her,--you! make her an impostor, and of the wickedest kind, inventing lies between earth and them as dwell in the seven spheres! Fie! No, if she hasn't the gift natural, let her alone: what here is not heaven-sent is devil-taught.
gpt
Then you really think you saw all that you described, in that glass egg?
human
Think!--am I a liar? I spoke truth, and the proof is-- there--!
gpt
The two minutes are just up,
human
They are come, indeed, said Sophy, re-entering the room softly:
gpt
I hear their voices at the threshold.