an improper acquaintance
with a gorgio, but I should think that the batus and cokos could hardly
object to the chi's entering into the honourable estate of wedlock with a
gorgio.'

Ursula was silent.

'Marriage is an honourable estate, Ursula.'

'Well, brother, suppose it be?'

'I don't see why a Romany chi should object to enter into the honourable
estate of wedlock with a gorgio.'

'You don't, brother; don't you?'

'No,' said I, 'and, moreover, I am aware, notwithstanding your evasion,
Ursula, that marriages and connections now and then occur between gorgios
and Romany chies; the result of which is the mixed breed called
half-and-half, which is at present travelling about England, and to which
the Flaming Tinman belongs, otherwise called Anselo Herne.'

'As for the half-and-halfs,' said Ursula, 'they are a bad set; and there
is not a worse blackguard in England than Anselo Herne.' {72}

'All what you say may be very true, Ursula, but you admit that there are
half-and-halfs.'

'The more's the pity, brother.'

'Pity or not, you admit the fact; but how do you account for it?'

'How do I account for it? Why, I will tell you, by the break up of a
Roman family, brother--the father of a small family dies, and perhaps the
mother, and the poor children are left behind, sometimes they are
gathered up by their relations, and sometimes, if they have none, by
charitable Romans, who bring them up in the observance of gypsy law; but
sometimes they are not so lucky, and falls into the company of gorgios,
trampers, and basket-makers, who live in caravans, with whom they take
up, and so--I hate to talk of the matter, brother, but so comes this race
of the half-and-halfs.'

'Then you mean to say, Ursula, that no Romany chi, unless compelled by
hard necessity, would have anything to do with a gorgio?'

'We are not over fond of gorgios, brother, and we hates basket-makers,
and folks that live in caravans.'

'Well,' said I, 'suppose a gorgio, who is not a basket-maker, a fine
handsome gorgious gentleman, who lives in a fine house--'

'We are not fond of houses, brother, I never slept in a house in my
life.'

'But would not plenty of money induce you?'

'I hate houses, brother, and those who live in them.'

'Well, suppose such a person were willing to resign his fine house, and
for love of you to adopt gypsy law, speak Romany, and live in a tan,
would you have nothing to say to him?'

'Bringing plenty of money with