All this I attributed to that 'prepotency of transmission in descent'
which I knew to be one of the Romany characteristics. All this I
attributed, I say, to the far-reaching influence of Fenella Stanley.
But would this, coupled with her affection for Winifred, have been
strong enough to conquer Sinfi's terror of a curse and its supposed
power? And then that colloquy recorded by D'Arcy with what she
believed to be her mother's spirit--those words about 'the two
dukkeripens'--what did they mean? At one moment I seemed to guess
their meaning in a dim way, and at the next they seemed more
inexplicable than ever. But be their import what it might, one thing
was quite certain--Sinfi had saved Winifred, and there swept through
my very being a passion of gratitude to the girl who had acted so
nobly which for the moment seemed to drown all other emotions.
I had not much time, however, for bringing my thoughts to bear upon
this new source of wonderment; for I suddenly saw Winifred and Sinfi
descending the steep path towards me.
But what a change there was in Sinfi! The traces of illness had fled
entirely from her face, and were replaced by the illumination of the
triumphant soul within--a light such as I could imagine shining on
the features of Boadicea fresh from a successful bout with the foe of
her race.
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