Jane Eyre

real sorceress!« cried Frederick Lynn. »Let us have her in, of course.«
    »To be sure,« rejoined his brother; »it would be a thousand pities to throw away such a chance of fun.«
    »My dear boys, what are you thinking about?« exclaimed Lady Lynn.
    »I cannot possibly countenance any such inconsistent proceeding,« chimed in the Dowager Ingram.
    »Indeed, mama, but you can – and will,« pronounced the haughty voice of Blanche, as she turned round on the piano-stool; where till now she had sat silent, apparently examining sundry sheets of music. »I have a curiosity to hear my fortune told: therefore, Sam, order the beldame forwards.«
    »My darling Blanche! recollect –«
    »I do – I recollect all you can suggest; and I must have my will – quick, Sam!«
    »Yes – yes – yes!« cried all the juveniles, both ladies and gentlemen. »Let her come – it will be excellent sport!«
    The footman still lingered. »She looks such a rough one,« said he.
    »Go!« ejaculated Miss Ingram, and the man went.
    Excitement instantly seized the whole party: a running fire of raillery and jests was proceeding when Sam returned.
    »She won't come now,« said he. »She says it's not her mission to appear before the ›vulgar herd‹ (them's her words). I must show her into a room by herself, and then those who wish to consult her must go to her one by one.«
    »You see now, my queenly Blanche,« began Lady Ingram, »she encroaches. Be advised, my angel girl – and –«
    »Show her into the library, of course,« cut in the »angel girl.« »It is not my mission to listen to her before the vulgar herd either: I mean to have her all to myself. Is there a fire in the library?«
    »Yes, ma'am – but she looks such a tinkler.«
    »Cease that chatter, blockhead! and do my bidding.«
    Again Sam vanished; and mystery, animation, expectation rose to full flow once more.
    »She's ready now,« said the footman, as he re-appeared. »She wishes to know who will be her first visitor.«
    »I think I had better just look in upon her before any of the ladies go,« said Colonel Dent.
    »Tell her, Sam, a gentleman is coming.«
    Sam went and returned.
    »She says, sir, that she'll have no gentlemen; they need not trouble themselves to come near her: nor,« he added, with difficulty suppressing a titter, »any ladies either, except the young and single.«
    »By Jove, she has taste!« exclaimed Henry Lynn.
    Miss Ingram rose solemnly: »I go first,« she said, in a tone which might have befitted the leader of a forlorn hope, mounting a breach in the van of his men.
    »Oh, my best! oh, my dearest! pause – reflect!« was her mama's cry; but she swept past her in stately silence, passed through the door which Colonel Dent held open, and we heard her enter the library.
    A comparative silence ensued. Lady Ingrain thought it ›le cas‹ to wring her hands: which she did accordingly. Miss Mary declared she felt, for her part, she never dared venture. Amy and Louisa Eshton tittered under their breath, and looked a little frightened.
    The minutes passed very slowly: fifteen were counted before the library-door again opened. Miss Ingram returned to us through the arch.
    Would she laugh? Would she take it as a joke? All eyes met her with a glance of eager curiosity, and she met all eyes with one of rebuff and coldness: she looked neither flurried nor merry; she walked stiffly to her seat, and took it in silence.
    »Well, Blanche?« said Lord Ingram.
    »What did she say, sister?« asked Mary.
    »What do you think? How do you feel? Is she a real fortune-teller?« demanded the Misses Eshton.
    »Now, now, good people,« returned Miss Ingram, »don't press upon me. Really your organs of wonder and credulity are easily excited: you seem by the importance you all – my good mama included – ascribe to this matter – absolutely to believe we have a genuine witch in the house, who is in close alliance with the old gentleman. I have seen a gipsy-vagabond; she has practised in hackneyed fashion the science of palmistry, and told me what such people usually tell. My whim is gratified; and now I think Mr. Eshton will do well to put the hag in the stocks to-morrow morning, as he threatened.«
    Miss Ingram took a book, leant back in her chair, and so declined further conversation. I watched her for nearly half an hour: during all that time she never turned a page, and her face grew momently darker, more dissatisfied, and more sourly expressive of disappointment.