Part 4

“‘I really believe,’ said Lady Aubrey, half reproachfully, ‘that my little girl sometimes almost pines after her woodland life with that young gipsy.’

“‘Not after my life, mama!--O don’t say that!--but I do want sadly to see poor, poor Keziah once more.--O if you did but know how kind and good she was, how she used to carry me on her back when she was ready to drop herself, and how she used to rob herself of all her own poor covering at night for my sake, and how she used to let me talk to her of you and my papa, and pray that God would bless you for having taught me such wonderful things of Him and of his goodness, you would not wonder that I love her, and that it grieves me to think she is still obliged to lead a life that she hates with those wicked, wicked gipsies.--O mama! I believe that but for her, I should never, never have lived to come back to you again!’--and Julia burst into tears.

“‘I do not wonder at your feelings, my child,’ said Lady Aubrey soothingly, ‘and I love your poor Keziah too; and would to God that I could repay her for all she has done for you!’

“They now reached the house, and were met by a servant, who told Lady Aubrey that ‘a young girl was waiting, and earnestly begged to be allowed to speak to her, or to Miss Julia.’

“‘To _me_!’ cried Julia; ‘O it must, it must be Keziah!’

“‘What is her appearance?’ asked Lady Aubrey.

“‘She might be a gipsy, my lady, from her eyes and complexion,’ said the old butler; ‘but her manner is quite different--quite modest and simple.’

“‘O, mama, let her, let her come; I _know_ it is Keziah.’

“Lady Aubrey changed colour--‘Are you sure there are no others lurking near the house?’

“‘I have seen none, my lady.’

“‘Well, let her come,’ said Lady Aubrey: ‘but do you, Andrews, stay near.’ The old man soon returned, followed by the slight and almost shadowy form of the gipsy girl. The next instant Julia had sprung to her neck. Keziah looked timidly towards Lady Aubrey as if doubting whether she might venture to return the grateful child’s caresses; but the moist eyes and kindly smile that met her glance encouraged her, and kissing Julia’s forehead and hands, she burst into a flood of tears. Keziah’s history was quickly told. As soon as the report of the old woman’s fearful accident, and the child’s being safe and taken under a lady’s protection, had reached the ears of the gipsies, who had also attended the race-course, they concluded that a discovery of their share in the detention of the child was certain; and instantly quitting the course, they hastened by by-paths to join the rest of the gang, whom they had left in the forest. It was immediately determined that, for the general safety, they should disperse and join themselves singly to such tribes as they might be able to fall in with; and Keziah, who had always been despised by some for her timidity, and hated by others for the partiality with which her grandmother had regarded her, was permitted to take her own lonesome way unquestioned and uncared for. Her resolution was soon formed. She owed no duty to any but the old woman who had met with so terrific an end. The gipsy life, always distasteful, was now become loathsome to her. She determined to beg her way to Julia’s home, to give what tidings she could of her to her parents, if she was not yet restored to them, and at all events to throw herself on their protection, offering her labour for her bread.

“Many were the dangers and privations which the poor girl had met with on her weary way. She had sometimes subsisted for days and days on nuts, roots, and berries; she has sometimes been reduced to beg, and the glittering silver had been held out to tempt her to spell fortunes: ‘but,’ said she, with a glow of honest pride, spreading over her fine expressive features, ‘the bread of deceit has never touched these lips.’

“Keziah was now established for ever in her grateful Julia’s home. The thirst of her soul was gratified. She learned all she had so yearned to know, of her God, her Saviour, her religion. She had no longer to gaze at a distance and with mysterious awe, on the walls of a forbidden church, but she was admitted within its doors, to become, by the rite of baptism, in name, as she was already in heart--a Christian.”

CONCLUSION.

And now, my little readers, I will pause. I have told you so long a story, that perhaps we all require a little rest. I shall soon find out, however, whether what I have written for you gives you pleasure. If it does, I promise you another volume very soon; if it does not, you shall receive now my farewell.

LONDON:

IBOTSON AND PALMER, PRINTERS, SAVOY STREET, STRAND.

INTERESTING WORKS

_Published by J. Hatchard and Son._

1.

JUVENILE SUNDAY LIBRARY, Vol. I. Containing Lives of the Apostles and Early Martyrs of the Church. By the author of the “Trial of Skill.” 18mo. 4_s._ neatly half-bound.

2.

SCENES IN OUR PARISH. By a “COUNTRY PASTOR’S” DAUGHTER. Second Edition corrected. 12mo. 5_s._ bds.

_By the same Author_,

A SECOND SERIES. In the Press.

3.

TWELVE LECTURES upon the HISTORY of SAINT PAUL, delivered during Lent, 1831, at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Upper Chelsea. By the Rev. H. BLUNT, A.M. Part I. Second Edition, 12mo. 5_s._ 6_d._ bound in canvas.

_By the same Author_,

1. TWELVE LECTURES upon the HISTORY of ABRAHAM. Fourth Edition. 12mo. 5_s._ 6_d._ canvas.

2. NINE LECTURES upon the HISTORY of ST. PETER; delivered during Lent, 1829, at the Church of St. Luke, Chelsea. Eighth Edition. 12mo. 4_s._ 6_d._ canvas.

3. EIGHT LECTURES upon the HISTORY of JACOB; delivered during Lent, 1828. Eighth Edition. 12mo. 4_s._ 6_d._ canvas.

Transcriber’s Notes

Obvious errors in punctuation have been corrected.

Page 11: “taid on so long” changed to “staid on so long”

Page 13: “poor Charley’s face” changed to “poor Charlie’s face”

Page 20: “to to read” changed to “to read”

Page 112: “TWELVE LECTURES upon the HISTORY ABRAHAM” changed to “TWELVE LECTURES upon the HISTORY of ABRAHAM”