Petulengro and his companion, I therefore
called Mr. Petulengro aside, and gave him a hint to that effect. Mr.
Petulengro, however, instead of thanking me, told me to mind my own bread
and butter, and forthwith returned to his game. I continued watching the
players for some hours. The gypsies lost considerably, and I saw clearly
that the jockeys were cheating them most confoundedly. I therefore once
more called Mr. Petulengro aside, and told him that the jockeys were
cheating him, conjuring him to return to the encampment. Mr. Petulengro,
who was by this time somewhat the worse for liquor, now fell into a
passion, swore several oaths, and asking me who had made me a Moses over
him and his brethren, told me to return to the encampment by myself.
Incensed at the unworthy return which my well-meant words had received, I
forthwith left the house, and having purchased a few articles of
provision, I set out for the dingle alone. It was dark night when I
reached it, and descending I saw the glimmer of a fire from the depths of
the dingle; my heart beat with fond anticipation of a welcome. "Isopel
Berners is waiting for me," said I, "and the first word that I shall hear
from her lips is that she has made up her mind. We shall go to America,
and be so happy together." On reaching the bottom of the dingle,
however, I saw seated near the fire, beside which stood the kettle
simmering, not Isopel Berners, but a gypsy girl, who told me that Miss
Berners when she went away had charged her to keep up the fire, and have
the kettle boiling against my arrival. Startled at these words, I
inquired at what hour Isopel had left, and whither she had gone, and was
told that she had left the dingle, with her cart, about two hours after I
departed; but where she was gone the girl did not know. I then asked
whether she had left no message, and the girl replied that she had left
none, but had merely given directions about the kettle and fire, putting,
at the same time, sixpence into her hand. "Very strange," thought I;
then dismissing the gypsy girl I sat down by the fire. I had no wish for
tea, but sat looking on the embers, wondering what could be the motive of
the sudden departure of Isopel. "Does she mean to return?" thought I to
myself. "Surely she means to return," Hope replied, "or she would not
have gone away without leaving any message"--"and yet she could scarcely
mean to return," muttered Foreboding, "or she would assuredly h