The Romany Rye

the Tent - Certificated

to practise the duties of hospitality.' 'How fond you are of using that word,' said Belle, 'if you wish to invite the man and his wife, do so, without more ado; remember, however, that I have not cups enough, nor, indeed, tea enough, for the whole company.' Thereupon hurrying up the ascent, I presently found myself outside the dingle. It was, as usual, a brilliant morning, the dewy blades of the rye-grass which covered the plain sparkled brightly in the beams of the sun, which had probably been about two hours above the horizon. A rather numerous body of my ancient friends and allies occupied the ground in the vicinity of the mouth of the dingle. About five yards on the right I perceived Mr. Petulengro busily employed in erecting his tent; he held in his

ove the sharp end of the bar into the ground; 'here w

you, madam,' said I, making a bow to Mrs. Petulengro;

o; 'you look as usual, charmingly, and spea

rs,' said Mrs. Chikno. 'However

' said I, looking ar

I don't know; he who countenances hi

ridden down a by-road to show a farmer a two-year-old colt,

deed,' said

y not,

in your words, brother; as I sa

Berners, down in the dell there, requests the pleasure of Mr. and Mrs. Petulengro's compa

e your wife, young m

fe?' s

r wife, your lawful,

I, 'she is

aid Mrs. Chikno; 'I countenanc

n by the roving

t being certificated, I calls such behaviour being tolerably deep in the roving-line, everything savouring of which I am determined not to sanctify.

e in dingles together without being

ed mind, on which account I am suspicious of nobody, not even of my own husband, whom some people would think I have a right to be suspicious of, seeing that on his account I once refused a lord; but ask him whether I am suspicious of him, and whether I seeks to keep him close tied to my apron-str

y as yourself, and with respect to that offer with which you frequently fatigue those who keeps

ke me his second wife; for it is true that he had another, who was old and stout, though mighty rich, and highly good-natured, so much so, indeed, that the young lord assured me that

what I before thought, that it was al

hope to pass them off for French, which I cannot in the present company. I heartily wish that there was no such language, and do my best to keep

sister, it is no fault of mine, it is - but why do I call you sister?' said she, angrily, 'you are no sister of mine, you are a grasni 50 - a re

pt her polite invitation. I am just arrived, and have some slight domestic matters to see to, amongst others, to wash my children's faces; but that in the course of the forenoon, when I have attended to what I have to do, and have dressed my

with my wife as soon as we are regularly settled: at present I have much on my hands, having not

ngro. Isopel made no other reply than by replacing in her coffer two additional cups and saucers, which, in expectation of company, she had placed upon the b