The Gypsy Queen's Vow

rgue him replet

kspe

uggling, incredulous voice. "Just to think we should meet a

stroll on the classic banks of the Serpentine, when suddenly espying a short, plethoric, gruff-looking, masculine indi

a stout stick he carried, with the evident intention of trying the thickness of the pale young man's sku

young man you brought to London in your wagon one rainy night? Why, Mr. Harkin

e weapon. "Blessed! if you 'adn't gone clean hout my 'ead! Why, Mr. Toosypegs, this

"I knew you'd be very glad to see me, and it's real kind of you to say so.

d 'ad the-what's this now?" said Mr. Harkins, pausing, with knit brows, and scratching his head in perplexi

ested Mr. Toosype

cing round fiercely, "I 'ope you don'

nt any such thing; I wouldn't insult you for all the world for-for-" Mr. Toosypegs paused for a fi

n. "But what has this Mrs. 'Arkins 'ad-tongs-tongs? Oh, yes! tongs-will-eat-us! tha

ps," insinuated Mr

Harkins, rousing up again. "Hand my John Halbe

n ventured Mr. T

wn. "Blessed! if I hain't a good mind to bring you a clip 'long side the 'ead, for your imperence in conterdict

you, and I'm real sorry for your trouble," apol

e for fear hany the rest hof the family would take it. Mary-Hann, she got her feet wet, and

correct Mr. Harkins, in his own mind, in spite of him, was so completely overpowered by this bristling question

kins, pointing one stubby forefinger at society in general, "you 'a

king severely at a small boy who had a hold of his coat-tails behind. "But I hadn't the remotest idea of saying anythi

know, but what you might say a Hinglishman's 'ouse wasn't his castle, and he couldn't 'ave whatever he likes ther

Harkins meant the croup, thought it a very

I 'ad the lum-beggar hin my hown back, but o

, with friendly warmth. "I've been pretty well

ain't it, since the night I took

days exactly," said

you took me him.' That's in the Bible, Mr. Toosypegs," said Mr. Harkins, drawing down the corners of his

please-it hurts," said Mr. Toosypegs, wit

e Bible?" said Mr. Harkins, with one

ed into profanity by the enormity of the charge. "It's your elbow,

of no squenceyance, but you don't disrememb

frock? Oh, I remember her!" said Mr.

ch 'are, down there with her tribe. Mysterious are the ways of Providence. You blamed litt

by a depraved youth, who, turning a course of summersaults for the benefit of his constitution, rolled suddenly against Mr. Harkins' sh

stressin' to behold," said Mr. Harkins, with a grimace of pain; "but has I was sayin' habout the hold gipsy quee

xpected of him to be surprised, and who consequently

his words by another dig in the ribs, but that Mr. Toosyp

Toosypegs, in a voice betraying no

t there song, the 'Roast Beef hof Hold Hingland,' hand a-thinkin' no more 'arm, Mr. Toosypegs, nor a lot hof young pigses goin' to market," said Mr. Harkins, giving his stick a grand flourish to mark this bold figure of speech.

hin your vagging has

ueen, lookin' so dark, hand fierce, and wild-like, I nearly jumped clean hout the wagging. Blessed! if I wasn't s

s story, asked this question, so discomposed the mild young man with the freckles

, I'm sure," said Mr. Toosypegs, g

, husky whisper; "a baby, Mr. Toosypegs! Now, the

and, resting both hands on the top of his stick, came to a

idea," said Mr. Toosypegs, blushing to the very

has she hasked, and brought her along has far has my 'ouse, where Missus 'Arkins gave her something to eat for the little 'un, wh

say she was a real nice old lady, if she'd been let

d her?" said Mr.

it wasn't right at all, when he did not want to go. She

eerd her son

I was real sorry-I really was. Mr.

rkins

n't they?" said Mr. Hark

e; but, catching the stern look of Mr. Harkins, at this improper levit

" suggested

asn't a mermaid, it was a coral reef-that's the name

kins, in a moralizing tone, "hand should be a severe warning to hall, when they steal

e the plate, at all. That man they arrested for murder, and are going to hang, c

e tone; "they hain't to be believed, none of 'em. Hif they says one thing,

d it's real sensible of you to say so; but in this case it must be true. Why, they're going to hang the man, Mr. Harkins, and he confessed he did that, along with

arried a vidder." Here, Mr. Harkins, taking advantage of a moment's unguarded proximity, gave Mr. Toosypegs a

ain't used to such treatment, and it hurts," said Mr. Toosypegs, with whom this s

tender hin Hamerica," said Mr. Harkins. "When

t. There was the nicest people round where we lived that ever was," went on Mr. Toosypegs, getting enthusiastic. "There was Judge Lawless, up at Heath Hill; and old Admiral Havenful, a

'ave been," said Mr. Har

Creek, that run right before the house, got swelled up every time it rained, the house always made a point of getting flooded, and so we lived most of the time in the attic in the sprin

nice place?" said Mr. Harkins, w

t it. Well, then, three years ago my ma died, too, which was a serious affliction to me, Mr. Harkins, and I was left plunged in deepest sorrow and poverty. The niggers worked the farm, and I was employing my time in cultivating a pair of whiskers to alleviate my grief when I received a

p's 'live yet?" in

appy to say, still exists," an

got much pewter

s, completely at a loss. "You'll excuse me, I h

mptuously to himself. Then aloud: "'

d pounds or so," said Mr

d Mr. Harkins. "Oh, my heye!-w'y you'll be rich, Mr.

(that's where I used to live, Mr. Harkins), and we're going to fit up the old place

father of ten children, hand you won't catch nobody going hand dying hand leaving me one single blessed brass farden, while here's a cove mor

g out his purse. "I'm real happy to be able to be of service to yo

ince you're kind enough to request it; but hif you'll come and dine with me some day, I'll give you a dinner of b'iled pert

Mr. Toosypegs, politely. "I see you're in a hurry, so I'll bid you good-day