Part 24 (1/2)
”Do you ypsy queen That is, they call h I a” She sain with a tray and a small silver case ”The water is for irl walked over to Cora ”Do you think you are strong enough to take milk? Perhaps you would like lime in it”
”Thank you very much,” murmured Cora, ”but I am very sick, and I have never been ill before”
”It is the chlorofor dose”
”Chlorofor?”
”Yes, I was on the hotel porch with Ed”
”With Ed? I wish they had kidnapped Ed, although you are very nice, and when I heard theirls, I insisted upon theh one, but I conquered And let ” She stooped very low and whispered, ”Trust irls are around Youbut freedoypsy's warning? Didn't Mother Hull warn you not to go against Salvo?”
”The robber?”
”Hush!+ They are listening at that door, and I want you to stay with arette ”I would play so for you Do you like oing to cry----”
”That's the reason I want to make some noise They won't co We must make them think you like it here”
Cora turned and buried her face in the cushi+ons She realized that she had been abducted, and was being held a prisoner in this strange place
But she must--she felt she must--do as the woman told her Just a few tears from sheer nervousness, then she would be brave
”Don't you ever smoke?” asked the queen ”I should die or run the risk of the dogs except for arettes”
”The risk----”
”Hush!+ Yes, they have dreadful dogs I, too, am,” she whispered, ”a prisoner I will tell you about it later”
She picked up an instruered it It seeuitar The chords were very sweet, very deep and melodious She was a skilled musician; even in her distress Cora could not fail to notice that
”I haven't any new music,” said the queen ”They promised to fetch me some, but this trouble has kept the whole band busy No do you like this?” She swept her white fingers over the strings like so with a wind-harp ”That is my favorite coivesor sewing, so I work out pretty tunes and put them on paper
Sometimes they send them to the printers for me”
”Do you never leave here? Am I in America?” asked Cora
”Bless you, yes, you are in America; but no, to the other question I have never left this house or the grounds since I caland You see, I aypsy, for I live in a house and have sat on chairs, although they don't like it This house is an old mansion in the White Mountains”