akfasted, I gave Isopel Berners another lesson in
the Armenian language.

CHAPTER VI

THE PROMISED VISIT--ROMAN FASHION--WIZARD AND WITCH--CATCHING AT
WORDS--THE TWO FEMALES--DRESSING OF HAIR--THE NEW ROADS--BELLE'S ALTERED
APPEARANCE--HERSELF AGAIN

About mid-day Mr. and Mrs. Petulengro came to the dingle to pay the
promised visit. Belle, at the time of their arrival, was in her tent,
but I was at the fire-place, engaged in hammering part of the outer tire,
or defence, which had come off from one of the wheels of my vehicle. On
perceiving them I forthwith went to receive them. Mr. Petulengro was
dressed in Roman {33} fashion, with a somewhat smartly-cut sporting-coat,
the buttons of which were half-crowns--and a waistcoat, scarlet and
black, the buttons of which were spaded half-guineas: his breeches were
of a stuff half velveteen, half corduroy, the cords exceedingly broad.
He had leggings of buff cloth, furred at the bottom; and upon his feet
were highlows. Under his left arm was a long, black whalebone
riding-whip, with a red lash, and an immense silver knob. Upon his head
was a hat with a high peak, somewhat of the kind which the Spaniards call
_calane_, so much in favour with the bravos of Seville and Madrid. Now,
when I have added that Mr. Petulengro had on a very fine white holland
shirt, I think I have described his array. Mrs. Petulengro--I beg pardon
for not having spoken of her first--was also arrayed very much in the
Roman fashion. Her hair, which was exceedingly black and lustrous, fell
in braids on either side of her head. In her ears were rings, with long
drops of gold. Round her neck was a string of what seemed very much like
very large pearls, somewhat tarnished, however, and apparently of
considerable antiquity. 'Here we are, brother,' said Mr.
Petulengro--'here we are, come to see you--wizard and witch, witch and
wizard:

'"There's a chovahanee, and a chovahano,
The nav se len is Petulengro."' {34a}

'Hold your tongue, sir,' said Mrs. Petulengro; 'you make me ashamed of
you with your vulgar ditties. We are come a visiting now, and everything
low should be left behind.'

'True,' said Mr. Petulengro; 'why bring what's low to the dingle, which
is low enough already?'

'What, are you a catcher at words?' said I. 'I thought that catching at
words had been confined to the pot-house farmers and village witty
bodies.'

'All fools,' said Mrs. Petulengro, 'catch at words