Simple Sally thought herself happy to be let off so easily, never calculating that a smooth shilling was worth two crooked sixpences.  But this skill was a part of the black art in which Rachel excelled.  She took the money, and began to examine the lines of Sally’s left hand.  She bit her withered lip, shook her head, and bade her, poor dupe, beware of a young man, who had black hair.

“No, indeed,” cried Sally, all in a fright, “you mean black eyes, for our Jacob has got brown hair; ’tis his eyes that are black.”

“That is the very thing I was going to say,” muttered Rachel; “I meant eyes, though I said hair; for I know his hair is as brown as a chesnut, and his eyes as black as a sloe.”

“So they are, sure enough,” cried Sally; “how in the world could you know that?” forgetting that she herself had just told her so.  And it is thus that these hags pick out of the credulous all which they afterwards pretend to reveal to them.

“Oh, I know a pretty deal more than that,” said Rachel, “but you must be aware of this man.”

“Why so?” cried Sally with great quickness.

“Because,” answered Rachel, “you are fated to marry a man worth a hundred of him, who has grey eyes, light hair, and a stoop in the shoulders.”

“No, indeed, but I can’t,” said Sally; “I have promised Jacob, and Jacob I will marry.”

“You cannot, child,” returned Rachel, in a solemn tone; “it is out of your power; you are fated to marry the grey eyes and light hair.”

[Illustration]

“Nay, indeed,” said Sally, sighing deeply, “if I am fated, I must; I know there is no resisting one’s fate.”  This is a common cant with poor deluded girls, who are not aware that they themselves make their fate by their folly, and then complain there is no resisting it.

“What can I do?” said Sally.

“I will tell you that too,” said Rachel.  “You must take a walk next Sunday afternoon to the churchyard, and the first man you meet in a blue coat, with a large posy of pinks and southernwood in his bosom, sitting on the churchyard wall, about seven o’clock, he will be the man.”

“Provided,” said Sally, much disturbed, “that he has grey eyes, and stoops.”

“O, to be sure,” said Rachel; “otherwise it is not the right man.”

“But if I should mistake,” said Sally; “for two men may happen to have a coat and eyes of the same color.”

“To prevent that,” replied Rachel, “if it is the right man, the two first letters of his name will be R.P.  This man has got money beyond sea.”

“Oh, I do not value his money,” said Sally, with tears in her eyes, “for I love Jacob better than house or land; but if I am fated to marry another, I can’t help it; you know there is no struggling against my fate.”