FullReads

THE MAID.
You have come here because you took a fancy to see
what was on the other side of the wall. Isn’t that it?

THE GYPSY.
At last I have found some one in this stupid city
who understands me. Young woman–

THE MAID.
Yes?

THE GYPSY.
You do not belong here. There is no one here who does things because they are foolish and interesting. Would you like to come away with me?

THE MAID.
Oh, no. You must not think, because I understand you, that I approve of you. You see–

THE GYPSY.
You don’t approve of me?

THE MAID.
No–but I like you. I can’t help it. I always did like Gypsies. You see, I was brought up among them.

THE GYPSY.
You a Gypsy child!

THE MAID.
I suppose I was. Though I always preferred to imagine that I was some Princess that had been changed in the cradle and stolen away. When I was hardly more than a baby, I remember that I disapproved of their rough ways. I can still faintly remember the jolting of the wagons that kept me awake, and the smell of the soup in the big kettle over the fire.

THE GYPSY.
It is a good smell.

THE MAID.
But I did not think so! It smelled of garlic. And when I was six years old, I ran away. The tribe had encamped just outside the city here, and I wandered away from the tents, and entered the city-gate, and hid myself, and at night I came straight to the palace. The soldiers found me, and took me to the old king. He said that I should be the child of the palace. So they gave me white bread with butter on it, and put me to sleep between smooth white sheets.

THE GYPSY.
Gypsy children cannot thrive when they are taken into cities. They turn away from white bread with butter on it, and remembering the good smell of the soup in the big kettle over the fire, they fall sick with hunger. As for you–

THE MAID.
I thrived on the white bread with butter on it.

THE GYPSY.
You were a little renegade. But I forgive you! And now to my business, I have come to see the King, and talk with him. We kings should become better acquainted, don’t you think? I will ask him what he considers the proper price for telling fortunes, and find out what his ideas are on the subject of horse-trading. And no doubt he will ask me what I think about his coming marriage with the Princess of Basque. She is to arrive to-night, I believe, and be married tomorrow, to this King whom she has never seen!

THE MAID.
Be careful, or you will awaken him. That is his bed-chamber, there.

THE GYPSY.
Ah! Is he a light sleeper?

THE MAID.
The King sleeps soundly,
and awakens punctually every morning at six.

THE GYPSY.
( with a glance at the sky )

It is not quite six. Every morning, you say? And what then?

THE MAID.
He goes for a walk at seven,
and breakfasts at eight. Every morning.

THE GYPSY.
Regularly?

THE MAID.
The King is always on time to the moment.

THE GYPSY.
Ah, one of those clockwork kings!

THE MAID.
You must not make fun of him. He is a good king.