ker and his mort were already at some distance; I stood looking
after them for a little time, then taking the donkey by the reins I led
it with the cart to the bottom of the dingle. Arrived there, I found
Belle seated on the stone by the fireplace. Her hair was all
dishevelled, and she was in tears.

'They were bad people,' said she, 'and I did not like them, but they were
my only acquaintance in the wide world.'

{picture:The tinker and his mort were already at some distance; I stood
looking after them for a little time: page488.jpg}

CHAPTER LXXXVI

At tea--Vapours--Isopel Berners--Softly and kindly--Sweet pretty
creature--Bread and water--Two sailors--Truth and constancy--Very
strangely.

In the evening of that same day the tall girl and I sat at tea by the
fire, at the bottom of the dingle; the girl on a small stool, and myself,
as usual, upon my stone.

The water which served for the tea had been taken from a spring of
pellucid water in the neighbourhood, which I had not had the good fortune
to discover, though it was well known to my companion, and to the
wandering people who frequented the dingle.

'This tea is very good,' said I, 'but I cannot enjoy it as much as if I
were well: I feel very sadly.'

'How else should you feel,' said the girl, 'after fighting with the
Flaming Tinman? All I wonder at is that you can feel at all! As for the
tea, it ought to be good, seeing that it cost me ten shillings a pound.'

'That's a great deal for a person in your station to pay.'

'In my station! I'd have you to know, young man--however, I haven't the
heart to quarrel with you, you look so ill; and after all, it is a good
sum for one to pay who travels the roads; but if I must have tea, I like
to have the best; and tea I must have, for I am used to it, though I
can't help thinking that it sometimes fills my head with strange
fancies--what some folks call vapours, making me weep and cry.'

'Dear me,' said I, 'I should never have thought that one of your size and
fierceness would weep and cry!'

'My size and fierceness! I tell you what, young man, you are not over
civil this evening; but you are ill, as I said before, and I shan't take
much notice of your language, at least for the present; as for my size, I
am not so much bigger than yourself; and as for being fierce, you should
be the last one to fling that at me. It is well for you that I can be
fierce sometimes. If I hadn't taken your part aga