Page 11 of The Irish Gypsy
“Oh, we will be going to London after all,”exclaimed Barbara.
“Barbara, it’s just a silly card game,” Juliasaid, but she was well pleased with Kitty’s prophecies.
“Shuffle the remaining cards and pick yourfive,” said Kitty.
Barbara hesitated. “You go first, Kitty.”
Kitty shrugged and picked up the cards. Thefirst one was the seven of hearts.
“If a blue butterfly you see; You are fatedto sail over the sea.” Kitty muttered, “Heaven preserve us, I’vejust done that.”
“Don’t worry, you won’t see any bluebutterflies in Bolton,” scoffed Julia.
“Now, that’s a lie,” said Kitty, “for you arewearing, at this very moment, an enameled brooch which happens tobe a blue butterfly.”
Julia looked down at her shoulder. “So I am.You made it up!” she said flatly.
The next card was the three of diamonds.
“Three men, three men in love with you; Butonly one will e’er be true.”
She turned over the four of clubs.
“His heart is black, he likes his fun; Soturn to one whose name is John.”
“That’s Father’s name,” said Barbara with agiggle.
“His name is Jonathan,” said Juliasternly.
Kitty’s fourth card was the knave ofhearts.
“Beware of Cupid and his darts! Your fate isheld by the knave of hearts.”
Her last card was the queen of hearts.
“The queen of hearts, the king of love; Arose, a ring and a snow-white dove.”
“Oh, that’s beautiful,” said Barbara. Shetook the cards, shuffled them rather ineptly and slowly picked outfive cards. The nine of spades was the first.
“At nine in the morning on Saturday; You willbe traveling far away.”
The ace of hearts was next.
“Your fate is sealed on a Thursday night,Amid moonlight, flowers and pure delight.”
The next card turned over was the ten ofclubs.
“When the sun goes down, for luck and love;Hide a new penny in a velvet glove.”
“You shouldn’t tell her that. She’ll goupstairs and do it,” said Julia with a laugh.
The king of diamonds came up next.
“First he kisses your fingertips; Then loveis sealed with scarlet lips.”
Barbara blushed prettily. The last card wasthe two of clubs.
“A Gypsy girl will tell you the truth— Youare fated to marry the love of your youth."
