Did the palms
lie, Edith? You were ever incredulous! Answer, did the palms lie?"
"The prediction was partly fulfilled, as it was very likely to be at the
time our neighborhood was overrun by a ruthless foe. It happened so,
poor Fanny! You did not know the future, any more than I did--no one on
earth knows the mysteries of the future, 'not the angels in heaven, nor
the Son, but the Father only.'"
This seemed to annoy the poor creature--soothsaying, by palmistry, had
been her weakness in her brighter days, and now the strange propensity
clung to her through the dark night of her sorrows, and received
strength from her insanity.
"Come in, dear Fanny," said Edith, "come in and stay with us."
"No, no!" she almost shrieked again. "I should bring a curse upon your
house! Oh! I could tell you if you would hear! I could warn you, if you
would be warned! But you will not! you will not!" she continued,
wringing her hands in great trouble.
"You shall predict my fate and Miriam's," said Marian, smiling, as she
opened the gate, and came out leading the child. "And I know," she
continued, holding out her palm, "that it will be such a fair fate, as
to brighten up your spirits for sympathy with it."
"No! I will not look at your hand!" cried Fanny, turning away.
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