"Aprettysystem，"saidI，"whichextinguishesloveofcountryandofeverythingnoble，andbringsthemindsofitsministerstoaparitywiththoseofdevils，whodelightinnothingbutmischief。"

"Thesystem，"saidthemaninblack，"isagrandone，withunboundedvitality。CompareitwithyourProtestantism，andyouwillseethedifference。Poperyiseveratwork，whilstProtestantismissupine。Aprettychurch，indeed，theProtestant！Why，itcan’tevenworkamiracle。"

"Canyourchurchworkmiracles？"Idemanded。

"Thatwastheveryquestion，"saidthemaninblack，"whichtheancientBritishclergyaskedofAustinMonk，aftertheyhadbeenfoolsenoughtoacknowledgetheirowninability。

’Wedon’tpretendtoworkmiracles；doyou？’’Oh！dearme，yes，’saidAustin；’wefindnodifficultyinthematter。Wecanraisethedead，wecanmaketheblindsee；andtoconvinceyou，Iwillgivesighttotheblind。HereisthisblindSaxon，whomyoucannotcure，butonwhoseeyesIwillmanifestmypower，inordertoshowthedifferencebetweenthetrueandthefalsechurch；’andforthwith，withtheassistanceofahandkerchiefandalittlehotwater，heopenedtheeyesofthebarbarian。Sowemanagematters！A

prettychurch，thatoldBritishchurch，whichcouldnotworkmiracles—quiteashelplessasthemodernone。Thefools！

wasbirdlimesoscarceathingamongstthem？—andwerethepropertiesofwarmwatersounknowntothem，thattheycouldnotcloseapairofeyesandopenthem？"

"It’sapity，"saidI，"thattheBritishclergyatthatinterviewwithAustin，didnotbringforwardablindWelshman，andaskthemonktooperateuponhim。"

"Clearly，"saidthemaninblack；"that’swhattheyoughttohavedone；buttheywerefoolswithoutasingleresource。"

Herehetookasipathisglass。

"Buttheydidnotbelieveinthemiracle？"saidI。

"Andwhatdidtheirnotbelievingavailthem？"saidthemaninblack。"Austinremainedmasterofthefield，andtheywentawayholdingtheirheadsdown，andmutteringtothemselves。WhatafinesubjectforapaintingwouldbeAustin’sopeningtheeyesoftheSaxonbarbarian，andthediscomfitureoftheBritishclergy！Iwonderithasnotbeenpainted！—he！he！"

"Isupposeyourchurchstillperformsmiraclesoccasionally！"

saidI。

"Itdoes，"saidthemaninblack。"TheRev。—haslatelybeenperformingmiraclesinIreland，destroyingdevilsthathadgotpossessionofpeople；hehasbeeneminentlysuccessful。Intwoinstanceshenotonlydestroyedthedevils，butthelivesofthepeoplepossessed—he！he！Oh！

thereissomuchenergyinoursystem；wearealwaysatwork，whilstProtestantismissupine。"

"Youmustnotimagine，"saidI，"thatallProtestantsaresupine；someofthemappeartobefilledwithunboundedzeal。

Theydeal，itistrue，notinlyingmiracles，buttheypropagateGod’sWord。Irememberonlyafewmonthsago，havingoccasionforaBible，goingtoanestablishment，theobjectofwhichwastosendBiblesallovertheworld。Thesupportersofthatestablishmentcouldhavenoself—

interestedviews；forIwassuppliedbythemwithanoble—

sizedBibleatapricesosmallastoprecludetheideathatitcouldbringanyprofittothevendors。"

Thecountenanceofthemaninblackslightlyfell。"Iknowthepeopletowhomyouallude，"saidhe；"indeed，unknowntothem，Ihavefrequentlybeentoseethem，andobservedtheirways。Itellyoufranklythatthereisnotasetofpeopleinthiskingdomwhohavecausedourchurchsomuchtroubleanduneasiness。Ishouldrathersaythattheyalonecauseusany；forasfortherest，whatwiththeirdrowsiness，theirplethora，theirfollyandtheirvanity，theyaredoingusanythingbutmischief。Thesefellowsareapestilentsetofheretics，whomwewouldgladlyseeburnt；theyare，withthemostuntiringperseverance，andinspiteofdiversminatorydeclarationsoftheholyfather，scatteringtheirbooksabroadthroughallEurope，andhavecausedmanypeopleinCatholiccountriestothinkthathithertotheirpriesthoodhaveendeavoured，asmuchaspossible，tokeepthemblinded。

Thereisonefellowamongstthemforwhomweentertainaparticularaversion；abig，burlyparson，withthefaceofalion，thevoiceofabuffalo，andafistlikeasledge—

hammer。ThelasttimeIwasthere，Iobservedthathiseyewasuponme，andIdidnotliketheglancehegavemeatall；

Iobservedhimclenchhisfist，andItookmydepartureasfastasIconvenientlycould。WhetherhesuspectedwhoI

was，Iknownot；butIdidnotlikehislookatall，anddonotintendtogoagain。"

"Well，then，"saidI，"youconfessthatyouhaveredoubtableenemiestoyourplansintheseregions，andthatevenamongsttheecclesiasticstherearesomewidelydifferentfromthoseoftheplethoricandPlatitudeschools？"

"Itisbuttootrue，"saidthemaninblack；"andiftherestofyourchurchwerelikethemweshouldquicklybidadieutoallhopeofconvertingtheseregions，butwearethankfultobeabletosaythatsuchfolksarenotnumerous；thereare，moreover，causesatworkquitesufficienttoundermineeventheirzeal。Theirsonsreturnatthevacations，fromOxfordandCambridge，puppies，fullofthenonsensewhichtheyhaveimbibedfromPlatitudeprofessors；andthisnonsensetheyretailathome，whereitfailsnottomakesomeimpression，whilstthedaughtersscream—Ibegtheirpardons—warbleaboutScotland’sMontroseandBonnyDundee，andalltheJacobs；sowehavenodoubtthattheirpapas’zealaboutthepropagationofsuchavulgarbookastheBiblewillinaverylittletimebeterriblydiminished。OldRomewillwin，soyouhadbetterjoinher。"

Andthemaninblackdrainedthelastdropinhisglass。

"Never，"saidI，"willIbecometheslaveofRome。"

"Shewillallowyoulatitude，"saidthemaninblack；"dobutserveher，andshewillallowyoutocallher’puta’atadecenttimeandplace，herpopesoccasionallycallher’puta。’Apopehasbeenknowntostartfromhisbedatmidnightandrushoutintothecorridor，andcallout’puta’

threetimesinavoicewhichpiercedtheVatican；thatpopewas—"

"AlexandertheSixth，Idaresay，"saidI；"thegreatestmonsterthateverexisted，thoughtheworthiestheadwhichthepopesystemeverhad—sohisconsciencewasnotalwaysstill。Ithoughtithadbeensearedwithabrandofiron。"

"Ididnotalludetohim，buttoamuchmoremodernpope，"

saidthemaninblack；"itistruehebroughttheword，whichisSpanish，fromSpain，hisnativecountry，toRome。Hewasveryfondofcallingthechurchbythatname，andotherpopeshavetakenitup。Shewillallowyoutocallherbyit，ifyoubelongtoher。"

"Ishallcallherso，"saidI，"withoutbelongingtoher，oraskingherpermission。"

"Shewillallowyoutotreatherassuch，ifyoubelongtoher，"saidthemaninblack；"thereisachapelinRome，wherethereisawondrouslyfairstatue—thesonofacardinal—Imeanhisnephew—once—Well，shedidnotcutoffhishead，butslightlyboxedhischeekandbadehimgo。"

"Ihavereadallaboutthatin’Keysler’sTravels，’"saidI；

"doyoutellherthatIwouldnottouchherwithapairoftongs，unlesstoseizehernose。"

"Sheisfondoflucre，"saidthemaninblack；"butdoesnotgrudgeafaithfulpriestalittleprivateperquisite，"andhetookoutaveryhandsomegoldrepeater。

"Areyounotafraid，"saidI，"toflashthatwatchbeforetheeyesofapoortinkerinadingle？"

"Notbeforetheeyesofonelikeyou，"saidthemaninblack。

"Itisgettinglate，"saidI；"Icarenotforperquisites。"

"Soyouwillnotjoinus？"saidthemaninblack。

"Youhavehadmyanswer，"saidI。

"IfIbelongtoRome，"saidthemaninblack，"whyshouldnotyou？"

"Imaybeapoortinker，"saidI；"butImayneverhaveundergonewhatyouhave。Youremember，perhaps，thefableofthefoxwhohadlosthistail？"

Themaninblackwinced，butalmostimmediatelyrecoveringhimself，hesaid，"Well，wecandowithoutyou，wearesureofwinning。"

"Itisnotthepartofwisepeople，"saidI，"tomakesureofthebattlebeforeitisfought：there’sthelandlordofthepublic—house，whomadesurethathiscockswouldwin，yetthecockslostthemain，andthelandlordislittlebetterthanabankrupt。"

"Peopleverydifferentfromthelandlord，"saidthemaninblack，"bothinintellectandstation，thinkweshallsurelywin；thereareclevermachinatorsamonguswhohavenodoubtofoursuccess。"

"Well，"saidI，"Iwillsetthelandlordaside，andwilladduceonewhowasineverypointaverydifferentpersonfromthelandlord，bothinunderstandingandstation；hewasveryfondoflayingschemes，and，indeed，manyofthemturnedoutsuccessful。Hislastanddarlingone，however，miscarried，notwithstandingthatbyhiscalculationshehadpersuadedhimselfthattherewasnopossibilityofitsfailing—thepersonthatIalludetowasoldFraser—"

"Who？"saidthemaninblack，givingastart，andlettinghisglassfall。

"OldFraser，ofLovat，"saidI，"theprinceofallconspiratorsandmachinators；hemadesureofplacingthePretenderonthethroneoftheserealms。’Icanbringintothefieldsomanymen，’saidhe；’myson—in—lawCluny，somany，andlikewisemycousin，andmygoodfriend；’thenspeakingofthoseonwhomthegovernmentreckonedforsupport，hewouldsay，’Soandsoarelukewarm，thispersonisruledbyhiswife，whoiswithus，theclergyareanythingbuthostiletous，andasforthesoldiersandsailors，halfaredisaffectedtoKingGeorge，andtherestcowards。’Yetwhenthingscametoatrial，thispersonwhomhehadcalculatedupontojointhePretenderdidnotstirfromhishome，anotherjoinedthehostileranks，thepresumedcowardsturnedoutheroes，andthosewhomhethoughtheroesranawaylikelustyfellowsatCulloden；inaword，hefoundhimselfutterlymistaken，andinnothingmorethaninhimself；hethoughthewasahero，andprovedhimselfnothingmorethananoldfox；hegotupahollowtree，didn’the，justlikeafox？

"’L’operesuenonfuronleonine，madivolpe。’"

Themaninblacksatsilentforaconsiderabletime，andatlengthansweredinratherafalteringvoice，"Iwasnotpreparedforthis；youhavefrequentlysurprisedmebyyourknowledgeofthingswhichIshouldneverhaveexpectedanypersonofyourappearancetobeacquaintedwith，butthatyoushouldbeawareofmynameisacircumstanceutterlyincomprehensibletome。IhadimaginedthatnopersoninEnglandwasacquaintedwithit；indeed，Idon’tseehowanypersonshouldbe，Ihaverevealedittonoone，notbeingparticularlyproudofit。Yes，IacknowledgethatmynameisFraser，andthatIamofthebloodofthatfamilyorclan，ofwhichtherectorofourcollegeoncesaid，thathewasfirmlyofopinionthateveryindividualmemberwaseitherrogueorfool。IwasbornatMadrid，ofpure，OIME，Fraserblood。Myparents，atanearlyage，tookmeto—，wheretheyshortlydied，not，however，beforetheyhadplacedmeintheserviceofacardinal，withwhomIcontinuedforsomeyears，andwho，whenhehadnofurtheroccasionforme，sentmetothecollege，intheleft—handcloisterofwhich，asyouenter，restthebonesofSirJohn—；there，instudyinglogicandhumaneletters，IlostwhateverofhumanityIhadretainedwhendiscardedbythecardinal。Letmenot，however，forgettwopoints，—IamaFraser，itistrue，butnotaFlannagan；

ImaybearthevilestnameofBritain，butnotofIreland；I

wasbredupattheEnglishhouse，andthereisat—ahousefortheeducationofbogtrotters；Iwasnotbredupatthat；

beneaththelowestgulf，thereisoneyetlower；whatevermybloodmaybe，itisatleastnotIrish；whatevermyeducationmayhavebeen，IwasnotbredattheIrishseminary—onthoseaccountsIamthankful—yes，PERDIO！Iamthankful。

Aftersomeyearsatcollege—butwhyshouldItellyoumyhistory？youknowitalreadyperfectlywell，probablymuchbetterthanmyself。Iamnowamissionarypriest，labouringinhereticEngland，likeParsonsandGarnetofold，saveandexceptthat，unlikethem，Irunnodanger，forthetimesarechanged。AsItoldyoubefore，IshallcleavetoRome—I

must；NOHAYREMEDIO，astheysayatMadrid，andIwilldomybesttofurtherherholyplans—he！he！—butIconfessI

begintodoubtoftheirbeingsuccessfulhere—youputmeout；oldFraser，ofLovat！Ihaveheardmyfathertalkofhim；hehadagold—headedcane，withwhichheonceknockedmygrandfatherdown—hewasanastuteone，but，asyousay，mistaken，particularlyinhimself。IhavereadhislifebyArbuthnot，itisinthelibraryofourcollege。Farewell！I

shallcomenomoretothisdingle—tocomewouldbeofnoutility；Ishallgoandlabourelsewhere，though—howyoucametoknowmyname，isafactquiteinexplicable—

farewell！toyouboth。"

Hethenarose；andwithoutfurthersalutationdepartedfromthedingle，inwhichIneversawhimagain。"How，inthenameofwonder，cameyoutoknowthatman’sname？"saidBelle，afterhehadbeengonesometime。

"I，Belle？Iknewnothingofthefellow’sname，Iassureyou。"

"Butyoumentionedhisname。"

"IfIdid，itwasmerelycasually，bywayofillustration。I

wassayinghowfrequentlycunningpeopleweremistakenintheircalculations，andIadducedthecaseofoldFraser，ofLovat，asoneinpoint；Ibroughtforwardhisname，becauseI

waswellacquaintedwithhishistory，fromhavingcompiledandinserteditinawonderfulwork，whichIeditedsomemonthsago，entitled’NewgateLivesandTrials，’butwithouttheslightestideathatitwasthenameofhimwhowassittingwithus；he，however，thoughtthatIwasawareofhisname。Belle！Belle！foralongtimeIdoubtedthetruthofScripture，owingtocertainconceitedindividuals，butnowI

begintobelievefirmly；whatwonderfultextsareinScripture，Belle；’Thewickedtremblethwhere—where—’"

"’Theywereafraidwherenofearwas；thouhastputthemtoconfusion，becauseGodhathdespisedthem，’"saidBelle；"I

havefrequentlyreaditbeforetheclergymaninthegreathouseofLongMelford。Butifyoudidnotknowtheman’sname，whylethimgoawaysupposingthatyoudid？"

"Oh，ifhewasfoolenoughtomakesuchamistake，Iwasnotgoingtoundeceivehim—no，no！LettheenemiesofoldEnglandmakethemostofalltheirblundersandmistakes，theywillhavenohelpfromme；butenoughofthefellow，Belle；letusnowhavetea，andafterthat—"

"NoArmenian，"saidBelle；"butIwanttoaskaquestion：

prayareallpeopleofthatman’snameeitherroguesorfools？"

"Itisimpossibleformetosay，Belle，thispersonbeingtheonlyoneofthenameIhaveeverpersonallyknown。Isupposetherearegoodandbad，cleverandfoolish，amongstthem，asamongstalllargebodiesofpeople；however，afterthetribehadbeengovernedforupwardsofthirtyyears，bysuchapersonasoldFraser，itwerenowonderifthegreaterparthadbecomeeitherroguesorfools：hewasaruthlesstyrant，Belle，overhisownpeople，andbyhiscrueltyandrapaciousnessmusteitherhavestunnedthemintoanapathyapproachingtoidiotcy，ormadethemartfulknavesintheirowndefence。Thequalitiesofparentsaregenerallytransmittedtotheirdescendants—theprogenyoftrainedpointersarealmostsuretopoint，evenwithoutbeingtaught：

if，therefore，allFrasersareeitherroguesorfools，asthispersonseemstoinsinuate，itislittletobewonderedat，theirparentsorgrandparentshavingbeeninthetraining—schoolofoldFraser！Butenoughoftheoldtyrantandhisslaves。Belle，prepareteathismoment，ordreadmyanger。Ihavenotagold—headedcanelikeoldFraserofLovat，butIhave，whatsomepeoplewoulddreadmuchmore，anArmenianrune—stick。"

CHAPTERV

FreshArrivals—PitchingtheTent—CertificatedWife—

High—flyingNotions。

ONthefollowingmorning，asIwasabouttoleavemytent，I

heardthevoiceofBelleatthedoor，exclaiming，"Sleepestthou，orwakestthou？""Iwasnevermoreawakeinmylife，"

saidI，goingout。"Whatisthematter？""Heofthehorse—

shoe，"saidshe，"Jasper，ofwhomIhaveheardyoutalk，isabovethereonthefieldwithallhispeople；Iwentoutaboutaquarterofanhouragotofillthekettleatthespring，andsawthemarriving。"Itiswell，"saidI；"haveyouanyobjectiontoaskinghimandhiswifetobreakfast？"

"Youcandoasyouplease，"saidshe；"Ihavecupsenough，andhavenoobjectiontotheircompany。""Wearethefirstoccupiersoftheground，"saidI，"and，beingso，shouldconsiderourselvesinthelightofhosts，anddoourbesttopractisethedutiesofhospitality。""Howfondyouareofusingthatword，"saidBelle；"ifyouwishtoinvitethemanandhiswife，doso，withoutmoreado；remember，however，thatIhavenotcupsenough，norindeedteaenough，forthewholecompany。"Thereuponhurryinguptheascent，I

presentlyfoundmyselfoutsidethedingle。Itwasasusualabrilliantmorning，thedewybladesoftherye—grasswhichcoveredtheplainsparkledbrightlyinthebeamsofthesun，whichhadprobablybeenabouttwohoursabovethehorizon。A

rathernumerousbodyofmyancientfriendsandalliesoccupiedthegroundinthevicinityofthemouthofthedingle。AboutfiveyardsontherightIperceivedMr。

Petulengrobusilyemployedinerectinghistent；heheldinhishandanironbar，sharpatthebottom，withakindofarmprojectingfromthetopforthepurposeofsupportingakettleorcauldronoverthefire，andwhichiscalledintheRomanianlanguage"Kekauviskoesaster。"WiththesharpendofthisMr。Petulengrowasmakingholesintheearth，atabouttwentyinchesdistantfromeachother，intowhichheinsertedcertainlongrodswithaconsiderablebendtowardsthetop，whichconstitutednolessthanthetimberofthetent，andthesupportersofthecanvas。Mrs。Petulengro，andafemalewithacrutchinherhand，whomIrecognisedasMrs。

Chikno，satnearhimontheground，whilsttwoorthreechildren，fromsixtotenyearsold，whocomposedtheyoungfamilyofMr。andMrs。Petulengro，wereplayingabout。

"Hereweare，brother，"saidMr。Petulengro，ashedrovethesharpendofthebarintotheground；"hereweare，andplentyofus—ButedostaRomanychals。"

"Iamgladtoseeyouall，"saidI；"andparticularlyyou，madam，"saidI，makingabowtoMrs。Petulengro；"andyoualso，madam，"takingoffmyhattoMrs。Chikno。

"Good—daytoyou，sir，"saidMrs。Petulengro；"youlook，asusual，charmingly，andspeakso，too；youhavenotforgotyourmanners。"

"Itisnotallgoldthatglitters，"saidMrs。Chikno。

"However，good—morrowtoyou，youngrye。"

"IdonotseeTawno，"saidI，lookingaround；"whereishe？"

"Where，indeed！"saidMrs。Chikno；"Idon’tknow；hewhocountenanceshimintherovinglinecanbestanswer。"

"Hewillbehereanon，"saidMr。Petulengro；"hehasmerelyriddendownaby—roadtoshowafarmeratwo—year—oldcolt；

sheheardmegivehimdirections，butshecan’tbesatisfied。"

"Ican’tindeed，"saidMrs。Chikno。

"Andwhynot，sister？"

"BecauseIplacenoconfidenceinyourwords，brother；asI

saidbefore，youcountenanceshim。"

"Well，"saidI，"Iknownothingofyourprivateconcerns；I

amcomeonanerrand。IsopelBerners，downinthedellthere，requeststhepleasureofMr。andMrs。Petulengro’scompanyatbreakfast。Shewillbehappyalsotoseeyou，madam，"saidI，addressingMrs。Chikno。

"Isthatyoungfemaleyourwife，youngman？"saidMrs。

Chikno。

"Mywife？"saidI。

"Yes，youngman；yourwife，yourlawfulcertificatedwife？"

"No，"saidI；"sheisnotmywife。"

"ThenIwillnotvisitwithher，"saidMrs。Chikno；"I

countenancenothingintherovingline。"

"Whatdoyoumeanbytherovingline？"Idemanded。

"WhatdoImeanbytherovingline？Why，byitImeansuchconductasisnottatcheno。Whenryesandrawnieslivetogetherindingles，withoutbeingcertificated，Icallsuchbehaviourbeingtolerablydeepintherovingline，everythingsavouringofwhichIamdeterminednottosanctify。Ihavesufferedtoomuchbymyowncertificatedhusband’soutbreaksinthatlinetoaffordanythingofthekindtheslightestshadowofcountenance。"

"Itishardthatpeoplemaynotliveindinglestogetherwithoutbeingsuspectedofdoingwrong，"saidI。

"Soitis，"saidMrs。Petulengro，interposing；"and，totellyouthetruth，Iamaltogethersurprisedattheilliberalityofmysister’sremarks。Ihaveoftenheardsay，thatitisingoodcompany—andIhavekeptgoodcompanyinmytime—

thatsuspicionisking’sevidenceofanarrowanduncultivatedmind；onwhichaccountIamsuspiciousofnobody，notevenofmyownhusband，whomsomepeoplewouldthinkIhavearighttobesuspiciousof，seeingthatonhisaccountIoncerefusedalord；butaskhimwhetherIamsuspiciousofhim，andwhetherIseektokeephimclosetiedtomyapron—string；hewilltellyounothingofthekind；butthat，onthecontrary，Ialwaysallowshimanagreeablelatitude，permittinghimtogowherehepleases，andtoconversewithanyonetowhosemannerofspeakinghemaytakeafancy。ButIhavehadtheadvantageofkeepinggoodcompany，andtherefore—"

"Meklis，"saidMrs。Chikno，"praydropallthat，sister；I

believeIhavekeptasgoodcompanyasyourself；andwithrespecttothatofferwithwhichyoufrequentlyfatiguethosewhokeepscompanywithyou，Ibelieve，afterall，itwassomethingintherovinganduncertificatedline。"

"Inwhateverlineitwas，"saidMrs。Petulengro，"theofferwasagoodone。Theyoungduke—forhewasnotonlyalord，butaduketoo—offeredtokeepmeafinecarriage，andtomakemehissecondwife；foritistruethathehadanotherwhowasoldandstout，thoughmightyrich，andhighlygood—

natured；somuchso，indeed，thattheyounglordassuredmethatshewouldhavenomannerofobjectiontothearrangement；moreespeciallyifIwouldconsenttoliveinthesamehousewithher，beingfondofyoungandcheerfulsociety。Soyousee—"

"Yes，yes，"saidMrs。Chikno，"Isee，whatIbeforethought，thatitwasaltogetherintheuncertificatedline。"

"Meklis，"saidMrs。Petulengro；"Iuseyourownword，madam，whichisRomany：formyownpart，IamnotfondofusingRomanywords，unlessIcanhopetopassthemoffforFrench，whichIcannotinthepresentcompany。Iheartilywishthattherewasnosuchlanguage，anddomybesttokeepitawayfrommychildren，lestthefrequentuseofitshouldaltogetherconfirmtheminlowandvulgarhabits。Ihavefourchildren，madam，but—"

"Isupposebytalkingofyourfourchildrenyouwishtocheckmeforhavingnone，"saidMrs。Chikno，burstingintotears；

"ifIhavenochildren，sister，itisnofaultofmine，itis—butwhydoIcallyousister？"saidshe，angrily；"youarenosisterofmine，youareagrasni，aregularmare—aprettysister，indeed，ashamedofyourownlanguage。I

rememberwellthatbyyourhigh—flyingnotionsyoudroveyourownmother—"

"Wewilldropit，"saidMrs。Petulengro；"Idonotwishtoraisemyvoice，andtomakemyselfridiculous。Younggentleman，"saidshe，"praypresentmycomplimentstoMissIsopelBerners，andinformherthatIamverysorrythatI

cannotacceptherpoliteinvitation。Iamjustarrived，andhavesomeslightdomesticmatterstoseeto—amongstothers，towashmychildren’sfaces；butthatinthecourseoftheforenoon，whenIhaveattendedtowhatIhavetodo，andhavedressedmyself，Ihopetodomyselfthehonourofpayingheraregularvisit；youwilltellherthat，withmycompliments。

Withrespecttomyhusbandhecananswerforhimself，asI，notbeingofajealousdisposition，neverinterfereswithhismatters。"

"AndtellMissBerners，"saidMr。Petulengro，"thatIshallbehappytowaituponherincompanywithmywifeassoonasweareregularlysettled：atpresentIhavemuchonmyhands，havingnotonlytopitchmyowntent，butthisherejealouswoman’s，whosehusbandisabsentonmybusiness。"

ThereuponIreturnedtothedingle，and，withoutsayinganythingaboutMrs。Chikno’sobservations，communicatedtoIsopelthemessagesofMr。andMrs。Petulengro；Isopelmadenootherreplythanbyreplacinginhercoffertwoadditionalcupsandsaucers，which，inexpectationofcompany，shehadplacedupontheboard。Thekettlewasbythistimeboiling。

Wesatdown，and，aswebreakfasted，IgaveIsopelBernersanotherlessonintheArmenianlanguage。