rty that on the morrow I
intended to mount my horse, and leave that part of the country in quest
of adventures; inquiring of Jasper where, in the event of my selling the
horse advantageously, I might meet with him, and repay the money I had
borrowed of him; whereupon Mr. Petulengro informed me that in about ten
weeks I might find him at a certain place at the Chong gav. I then
stated that as I could not well carry with me the property which I
possessed in the dingle, which after all was of no considerable value, I
had resolved to bestow the said property, namely, the pony, tent, tinker-
tools, etc., on Ursula and her husband, partly because they were poor,
and partly on account of the great kindness which I bore to Ursula, from
whom I had, on various occasions, experienced all manner of civility,
particularly in regard to crabbed words. On hearing this intelligence,
Ursula returned many thanks to her gentle brother, as she called me, and
Sylvester was so overjoyed that, casting aside his usual phlegm, he said
I was the best friend he had ever had in the world, and in testimony of
his gratitude swore that he would permit his wife to give me a choomer in
the presence of the whole company, which offer, however, met with a very
mortifying reception, the company frowning disapprobation, Ursula
protesting against anything of the kind, and I myself showing no
forwardness to avail myself of it, having inherited from nature a
considerable fund of modesty, to which was added no slight store acquired
in the course of my Irish education. I passed that night alone in the
dingle in a very melancholy manner, with little or no sleep, thinking of
Isopel Berners; and in the morning when I quitted it I shed several
tears, as I reflected that I should probably never again see the spot
where I had passed so many hours in her company.

CHAPTER XX

Farewell to the Romans--The Landlord and His Niece--Set Out as a
Traveller.

On reaching the plain above, I found my Romany friends breakfasting, and
on being asked by Mr. Petulengro to join them, I accepted the invitation.
No sooner was breakfast over than I informed Ursula and her husband that
they would find the property, which I had promised them, in the dingle,
commending the little pony Ambrol to their best care. I took leave of
the whole company, which was itself about to break up camp and to depart
in the direction of London, and made the best of my way to the public-
house.