topping the rambles of gypsies, and other like
scamps, it ought to be encouraged. Well, brother, feeling myself
insulted, I put my hand into my pocket, in order to pull out money,
intending to challenge him to fight for a five-shilling stake, but merely
found sixpence, having left all my other money at the tent; which
sixpence was just sufficient to pay for the beer which Sylvester and
myself were drinking, of whom I couldn't hope to borrow anything--'poor
as Sylvester' being a by-word amongst us. So, not being able to back
myself, I held my peace, and let the Gorgio have it all his own way, who,
after turning up his nose at me, went on discoursing about the said
invention, saying what a fund of profit it would be to those who knew how
to make use of it, and should have the laying down of the new roads, and
the shoeing of England with iron. And after he had said this, and much
more of the same kind, which I cannot remember, he and his companion got
up and walked away; and presently I and Sylvester got up and walked to
our camp; and there I lay down in my tent by the side of my wife, where I
had an ugly dream of having camped upon an iron road; my tent being
overturned by a flying vehicle; my wife's leg injured; and all my affairs
put into great confusion."

"Now, madam," said Mrs. Petulengro, "I have braided your hair in our
fashion: you look very beautiful, madam; more beautiful, if possible,
than before." Belle now rose, and came forward with her tire-woman. Mr.
Petulengro was loud in his applause, but I said nothing, for I did not
think Belle was improved in appearance by having submitted to the
ministry of Mrs. Petulengro's hand. Nature never intended Belle to
appear as a gypsy; she had made her too proud and serious. A more proper
part for her was that of a heroine, a queenly heroine,--that of Theresa
of Hungary, for example; or, better still, that of Brynhilda the
Valkyrie, the beloved of Sigurd, the serpent-killer, who incurred the
curse of Odin, because, in the tumult of spears, she sided with the young
king, and doomed the old warrior to die, to whom Odin had promised
victory.

Belle looked at me for a moment in silence; then turning to Mrs.
Petulengro, she said, "You have had your will with me; are you
satisfied?" "Quite so, madam," said Mrs. Petulengro, "and I hope you
will be so too, as soon as you have looked in the glass." "I have looked
in one already," said Belle, "and the glass does not flatte