Carrys Rose | Page 8

"Oh, I do wish Herbert had stayed to help us," said Caroline; "I really
cannot understand why he doesn't take an interest in dumb animals. I
wonder why he is so different from Charles. Your brother is seldom
cross with you, not even when you are cross with him."
"No," said Lizzie; "he is really a good kind boy; but I know somebody,
not very far off, who is just as good and gentle as my brother
Charles,--and that is yourself, you patient little puss."
"Oh, don't say that, Lizzie dear," said Caroline, with flushed cheeks.
"I'm often hasty and ill-tempered, and make Herbert worse than he
might be if I left him alone."
"Well," replied Lizzie, "all I can say is, if Herbert were my brother, I
should be twice as hasty and five times as ill-tempered, for he is about
the most provoking boy I know."

Charles returned in due time from the gipsy encampment, quite
delighted with all he had seen of the people, and reported they had
given up their donkey for lost; and, of course, they had been much
gratified to hear it was likely to be restored to health and strength.
"I made them promise to leave the poor animal with us for a week,"
said Charlie; "and they say that they are quite willing, and mean to go
on to the market-town, and return again for him."
"Oh, I was hoping they would remain in the wood for some time," said
Lizzie. "I should like to see a gipsy encampment so much."
"And so should I," said Carry. "Nurse is always so frightened for the
gipsies, she won't allow us ever to go near them. But, perhaps, when we
take the donkey back they will be civil, and not steal our clothes from
us."
"Does nurse say they will do that?" said Charlie. "Oh, what a shame! I
wouldn't believe it. They were so polite to me; and one old woman
insisted upon telling me my fortune, and when I offered her a sixpence
she wouldn't have it."
"And I suppose she told you some rubbish," said Herbert; "sent you
riding off in a coach-and-four with your pockets full of money and your
barrels full of beer?"
"I beg your pardon, sir," said Charlie, "she wasn't half so kind. She said
I would grow up to be more than six feet high; that I would be a soldier
or a sailor, which I don't intend to be; and that, after a great many
difficulties, I would succeed in the world, and mumbled something
about a clear opening and a straight uprising."
"That's because you didn't give her any money," said Herbert, laughing.
"Well, when they come back we'll have her to tell us ours," said Lizzie,
"and see if the coach-and-four is to fall to our lot."
"But I don't think mamma would like us to have our fortunes told. I

know she was very much displeased with one of the servants allowing
the gipsy woman to tell her hers. If we want to see the encampment, we
had better not have anything to do with the fortune-teller. Mamma says
it is not only silly but wicked to inquire into futurity."
In about a week the gipsies returned; and the donkey being much better,
he was taken over and restored to his rightful owners. He was so much
improved with his rest and good treatment that they hardly knew him,
and the whole of the gipsy children belonging to the encampment
gathered round to see their old friend and companion. When the
children from the Hall left, after inspecting the queer tents and
everything else, they turned to look once more at the donkey and wave
a good-bye to the gipsy man; and, as Carry said, poor Punch--that was
the name of the donkey--was looking wistfully after them, and if the
man hadn't held him firm, he seemed almost inclined to run after them.
"Poor beast," as Charlie said, "after all his hard years of labour it was
no wonder if he wanted a rest now."
[Illustration: PUNCH AND HIS OWNERS.]
The morning after Lizzie and Charles left, Caroline was unable to get
out of bed with a sick headache, but was able to be down to dinner,
where she found Herbert with rather a grave face, which did not escape
the notice of his mamma; but as he always said, in answer to her
question, there was nothing the matter, she thought he was only in one
of his bad humours. She then told Caroline that she had seen little blind
Susan, who was asking when she was to get another flower.
"I was just waiting for my china-rose to come out," said Caroline;
"there is one bud on it, and you know I