"Did you ever feel their teeth and nails, brother?"
"Never, Jasper, save Mrs. Herne"s. I have always been very civil to them, so--"
"They let you alone. I say, brother, some part of the secret is in them."
"They seem rather flighty, Jasper."
"Ay, ay, brother!"
"Rather fond of loose discourse!"
"Rather so, brother."
"Can you always trust them, Jasper?"
"We never watch them, brother."
"Can they always trust you?"
"Not quite so well as we can them. However, we get on very well together, except Mikailia and her husband; but Mikailia is a cripple, and is married to the beauty of the world, so she may be expected to be jealous--though he would not part with her for a d.u.c.h.ess, no more than I would part with my rawnie, nor any other chal with his."
"Ay, but would not the chi part with the chal for a duke, Jasper?"
"My Pakomovna gave up the duke for me, brother."
"But she occasionally talks of him, Jasper."
"Yes, brother, but Pakomovna was born on a common not far from the sign of the gammon."
"Gammon of bacon, I suppose."
"Yes, brother; but gammon likewise means--"
"I know it does, Jasper; it means fun, ridicule, jest; it is an ancient Norse word, and is found in the Edda."
"Lor", brother! how learned in lils you are!"
"Many words of Norse are to be found in our vulgar sayings, Jasper; for example--in that particularly vulgar saying of ours, "Your mother is up,"
there"s a n.o.ble Norse word; mother, there, meaning not the female who bore us, but rage and choler, as I discovered by reading the Sagas, Jasper."
"Lor", brother! how book-learned you be."
"Indifferently so, Jasper. Then you think you might trust your wife with the duke?"
"I think I could, brother, or even with yourself."
"Myself, Jasper! Oh, I never troubled my head about your wife; but I suppose there have been love affairs between gorgios and Romany chies.
Why, novels are stuffed with such matters; and then even one of your own songs says so--the song which Ursula was singing the other afternoon."
"That is somewhat of an old song, brother, and is sung by the chies as a warning at our solemn festivals."
"Well! but there"s your sister-in-law, Ursula, herself, Jasper."
"Ursula, herself, brother?"
"You were talking of my having her, Jasper."
"Well, brother, why didn"t you have her?"
"Would she have had me?"
"Of course, brother. You are so much of a Roman, and speak Romany so remarkably well."
"Poor thing! she looks very innocent!"
"Remarkably so, brother! however, though not born on the same common with my wife, she knows a thing or two of Roman matters."
"I should like to ask her a question or two, Jasper, in connection with that song."
"You can do no better, brother. Here we are at the camp. After tea, take Ursula under a hedge, and ask her a question or two in connection with that song."
CHAPTER X
Sunday Evening--Ursula--Action at Law--Meridiana--Married Already.
I took tea that evening with Mr. and Mrs. Petulengro and Ursula, outside of their tent. Tawno was not present, being engaged with his wife in his own tabernacle; Sylvester was there, however, lolling listlessly upon the ground. As I looked upon this man, I thought him one of the most disagreeable fellows I had ever seen. His features were ugly, and, moreover, as dark as pepper; and, besides being dark, his skin was dirty.
As for his dress, it was torn and sordid. His chest was broad, and his arms seemed powerful; but, upon the whole, he looked a very caitiff. "I am sorry that man has lost his wife," thought I; "for I am sure he will never get another." What surprises me is, that he ever found a woman disposed to unite her lot with his!
After tea I got up and strolled about the field. My thoughts were upon Isopel Berners. I wondered where she was, and how long she would stay away. At length becoming tired and listless, I determined to return to the dingle, and resume the reading of the Bible at the place where I had left off. "What better could I do," methought, "on a Sunday evening?" I was then near the wood which surrounded the dingle, but at that side which was farthest from the encampment, which stood near the entrance.
Suddenly, on turning round the southern corner of the copse, which surrounded the dingle, I perceived Ursula seated under a thornbush. I thought I never saw her look prettier than then, dressed as she was, in her Sunday"s best.
"Good evening, Ursula," said I; "I little thought to have the pleasure of seeing you here."
"Nor would you, brother," said Ursula, "had not Jasper told me that you had been talking about me, and wanted to speak to me under a hedge; so, hearing that, I watched your motions, and came here and sat down."
"I was thinking of going to my quarters in the dingle, to read the Bible, Ursula, but--"
"Oh, pray then, go to your quarters, brother, and read the Miduveleskoe lil; you can speak to me under a hedge some other time."
"I think I will sit down with you, Ursula; for, after all, reading G.o.dly books in dingles at eve, is rather sombre work. Yes, I think I will sit down with you;" and I sat down by her side.
"Well, brother, now you have sat down with me under the hedge, what have you to say to me?"
"Why, I hardly know, Ursula."