"Your mother is up,"
{62b} there's a noble Norse word; mother, there, meaning not the female
who bore us, but rage and choler, as I discovered by reading the Sagas,
Jasper.'

'Lor', brother! how book-learned you be.'

'Indifferently so, Jasper. Then you think you might trust your wife with
the duke?'

'I think I could, brother, or even with yourself.'

'Myself, Jasper! Oh, I never troubled my head about your wife; but I
suppose there have been love affairs between gorgios and Romany chies.
{63} Why novels are stuffed with such matters; and then even one of your
own songs says so--the song which Ursula was singing the other
afternoon.'

'That is somewhat of an old song, brother, and is sung by the chies as a
warning at our solemn festivals.'

'Well! but there's your sister-in-law, Ursula, herself, Jasper.'

'Ursula, herself, brother?'

'You were talking of my having her, Jasper.'

'Well, brother, why didn't you have her?'

'Would she have had me?'

'Of course, brother. You are so much of a Roman, and speak Romany so
remarkably well.'

'Poor thing! she looks very innocent!'

'Remarkably so, brother! however, though not born on the same common with
my wife, she knows a thing or two of Roman matters.'

'I should like to ask her a question or two, Jasper, in connection with
that song.'

'You can do no better, brother. Here we are at the camp. After tea,
take Ursula under a hedge, and ask her a question or two in connection
with that song.'

CHAPTER X

SUNDAY EVENING--URSULA--ACTION AT LAW--MERIDIANA--MARRIED ALREADY

I took tea that evening with Mr. and Mrs. Petulengro and Ursula, outside
of their tent. Tawno was not present, being engaged with his wife in his
own tabernacle; Sylvester was there, however, lolling listlessly upon the
ground. As I looked upon this man, I thought him one of the most
disagreeable fellows I had ever seen. His features were ugly, and,
moreover, as dark as pepper; and, besides being dark, his skin was dirty.
As for his dress, it was torn and sordid. His chest was broad, and his
arms seemed powerful; but, upon the whole, he looked a very caitiff. 'I
am sorry that man has lost his wife,' thought I; 'for I am sure he will
never get another.' What surprises me is, that he ever found a woman
disposed to unite her lot with his!

After tea I got up and strolled about the field. My thoughts were upon
Isopel Berners. I wondered where she was, and how long she