Page:Tales of my landlord (Volume 1).djvu/114

 laughing fair one, who was a cousin of Miss Vere's; "that's something, Nanny," she continued, turning to the timid damsel who had first approached the Dwarf; "will you ask your fortune?"

"Not for worlds," said she, drawing back, "I have heard enough of yours."

"Well, then," said Miss Ilderton, offering money to the Dwarf, "I'll pay for mine, as if it were spoken by an oracle to a princess."

"Truth," said the Soothsayer, "can neither be bought nor sold," and he pushed back her proffered offering with morose disdain.

"Well, then," said the lady, "I'll keep my money, Mr Elshender, to assist me in the chase I am to pursue."

"You will need it," replied the cynic; "without it, few pursue successfully, and fewer are themselves pursued.—Stop!" he said to Miss Vere, as her companions moved off, "with you I have more to say. You have what your companions would wish to have, or to be thought to have,