Lady Ingram 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 did 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 of 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.