However, let's try
the Gorgios;' and I got up and walked with her close to the two
sketchers.

Wilderspin was on the point of engaging me, when the other man,
without troubling to look at me again, said:

'He's no more a Romany than I am.'

'Ain't a Romany?' said Sinfi. 'Who says my brother ain't a Romany?
Where did you ever see a Gorgio with a skin like that?' she said,
triumphantly pulling up my sleeve and exposing one of my wrists.
'That ain't sunburn, that's the real Romany brown, an' we's twinses,
only I'm the biggest, an' we's the child'n of a duke, a real,
reg'lar, out-an'-out Romany duke.'

He gave a glance at the exposed wrist.

'As to the Romany brown,' said he, 'a little soap would often make a
change in the best Romany brown--ducal or other.'

'Why, look at his neck,' said Sinfi, turning down my neckerchief; 'is
that sunburn, or is it Romany brown, I should like to know?'

'I assure you,' said the speaker, still addressing her in the same
grave, measured voice, 'that the Romanies have no idea what a little
soap can do with the Romany brown.'

'Do you mean to say,' cried Sinfi, now entirely losing her temper
(for on the subject of Romany cleanliness she, the most cleanly of
women, was keenly sensitive)--'do you mean to say as the Romany dials
an' the Romany dries don't wash theirselves? I know what you fine
Gorgios _do_ say,--you're allus a-tellin' lies about us Romanies.
Brother,' she cried, turning now to me in a great fury, 'I'm a duke's
chavi, an' mustn't fight no mumply Gorgios; why don't _you_ take an'
make his bed for him?'

And certainly the man's supercilious impertinence was beginning to
irritate me.

'I should advise you to withdraw that about the soap,' I said
quietly, looking at him.

'Oh! and if I don't?'

'Why, then I suppose I must do as my sister bids,' said I. 'I must
make your bed,' pointing to the grass beneath his feet. 'But I think
it only fair to tell you that I am somewhat of a fighting man, which
you probably are not.'

'You mean...?' said he (turning round menacingly, but with no more
notion of how to use his fists than a lobster).

'I mean that we should not be fighting on equal terms,' I said.

'In other words,' said he, 'you mean...?' and he came nearer.

'In other words, I mean that, judging from the way in which you are
advancing towards me now, the result of such an encounter might not
tend to the honour and glory of the British artist in Wales.'

'But,'