The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 244: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE STEAM PACKET. 187 disposition. She played on the harp, and sang with exquisite taste and feeling ;—as she walked, her light form, modelled with the most exquisite symmetry, was the very personation of grace ;—and the tones of her voice were the most melodious ever heard. She was passion- ately fond of flowers, and gladly assented to a proposal made by Pauline to visit the little garden adjoining the cottage. After having examined, with true botanic taste, the various products of the little enclosure, Mademoiselle Tascher was about to enter the house once more, when a gipsy woman approached the railings to demand charity. “Twill have my fortune told!” ejaculated the sprightly girl; and before Pauline could utter a word by way of remonstrance, she had already yielded her palm to the old sybil over the railings, saying at the same time, “‘ Do you discover anything extraordinary in my destiny ? ”’ ““ Yes—much of happiness, and some misery,” was the reply, accompanied by a solemn shake of the head. ‘‘'You take care not to commit yourself, my good woman,” said the young lady. “I could utter the same prediction relative to any one, without much dread of its being falsified by the issue of events.” “You will pass through much misery, and will then be happy for a period,” continued the gipsy, not heeding these remarks: “your life will then once more verge into gloom and melancholy.” ** Again I cannot say that your prophecies are very sapient.” «Stay, then—upon your own head be it!” said the sybil solemnly. ~ “You will be married soon—that union will not be happy—you will become a widow—you will marry again—and—and i «¢ And what ?”’ demanded the young lady. ‘“< And you will become Queen of France!’ added the old woman. The young lady withdrew her hand hastily from the gipsy’s grasp, and, uttering an exclamation of mingled joy, alarm, and surprise, turned towards Pauline to ascertain what impression this declaration had made upon her. Mademoiselle Michel smiled faintly—for she did not altogether approve of the freak; and her young companion, having presented a silver coin to the old prophetess, retired with her kind hostess into the cottage. At three o’clock that afternoon M. Tascher and his daughter took leave of the family of Pierre Michel. But before they departed they — manifested their gratitude towards the inmates of the cottage to the utmost of their power. ‘+‘Gallant youth,” said M. Tascher, addressing himself to Albert, “to you I and my daughter are indebted for our lives. Accept this — ring as a token of my iia Saas gratitude. Nay— Gomichbooks (E(0)