e Miduveleskoe
lil; you can speak to me under a hedge some other time."
"I think I will sit down with you, Ursula; for, after all, reading godly
books in dingles at eve is rather sombre work. Yes, I think I will sit
down with you;" and I sat down by her side.
"Well, brother, now you have sat down with me under the hedge, what have
you to say to me?"
"Why, I hardly know, Ursula."
"Not know, brother; a pretty fellow you to ask young women to come and
sit with you under hedges, and, when they come, not know what to say to
them."
"Oh! ah! I remember; do you know, Ursula, that I take a great interest in
you?"
"Thank ye, brother; kind of you, at any rate."
"You must be exposed to a great many temptations, Ursula."
"A great many indeed, brother. It is hard to see fine things, such as
shawls, gold watches, and chains in the shops, behind the big glasses,
and to know that they are not intended for one. Many's the time I have
been tempted to make a dash at them; but I bethought myself that by so
doing I should cut my hands, besides being almost certain of being
grabbed and sent across the gull's bath to the foreign country."
"Then you think gold and fine things temptations, Ursula?"
"Of course, brother, very great temptations; don't you think them so?"
"Can't say I do, Ursula."
"Then more fool you, brother; but have the kindness to tell me what you
would call a temptation?"
"Why, for example, the hope of honour and renown, Ursula."
"The hope of honour and renown! very good, brother; but I tell you one
thing, that unless you have money in your pocket, and good broadcloth on
your back, you are not likely to obtain much honour and--what do you call
it? amongst the gorgios, to say nothing of the Romany chals."
"I should have thought, Ursula, that the Romany chals, roaming about the
world as they do, free and independent, were above being led by such
trifles."
"Then you know nothing of the gypsies, brother; no people on earth are
fonder of those trifles, as you call them, than the Romany chals, or more
disposed to respect those who have them."
"Then money and fine clothes would induce you to do anything, Ursula?"
"Ay, ay, brother, anything."
"To chore, Ursula?"
"Like enough, brother; gypsies have been transported before now for
choring."
"To hokkawar?"
"Ay, ay; I was telling dukkerin only yesterday, brother."
"In fact, to break the law in everything?"
"Who knows, brother, who
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