Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/197

Rh was wise to watch the wheels, and so she signalled to Brenda that she would stay with them.

Once inside the large van, Brenda was so much entertained by what she saw, that she almost forgot to have her fortune told. Although it was only about four or five feet wide, it was arranged as a living-room. There was a long, broad seat—bunk perhaps it should be called—running across the end. Blankets, pillows, and high-colored coverlid were arranged on it, showing that it was used at times for a bed. Little doors under the bunk indicated a closet; “probably for clothes,” thought  Brenda.

Around the sides of the wagon was a long seat, and the space under it was stuffed with all kinds of odds and ends. The old woman raised the blind from one of the windows at the side, and motioned Brenda to sit down. In the mean time, Nora, left outside, was looking about her to  take in all the features of the gypsy camp. First of all, she saw that the large van which Brenda had entered was  gayly painted, with gilded letters, which she decided to be  the initials of the owner, on the sides. There was a baggage rack behind on which she supposed they must  carry their trunks when they travelled. One shabby old trunk, and a wooden chest were on the ground beside the  tent. The tents themselves were rather dingy and grimy-looking, and a hole had been cut in one for a stove-pipe, from which a column of smoke was issuing. There was another wagon near-by and an exceedingly good-looking  buggy. At some distance, where two horses were tethered