"Andthisisyouractionatlaw，Ursula？"

"Yes，brother，thisismyactionatclub—law。"

"Andwouldyourbreakingthefellow’sheadquiteclearyouofallsuspicionintheeyesofyourbatus，cokos，andwhatnot？"

"Theywouldneversuspectmeatall，brother，becausetheywouldknowthatIwouldnevercondescendtobeover—intimatewithagorgio；thebreakingtheheadwouldbemerelyintendedtojustifyUrsulaintheeyesofthegorgios。"

"Andwoulditclearyouintheireyes？"

"Woulditnot，brother？whentheysawthebloodrunningdownfromthefellow’scrackedpollonhisgreensandLincolns，theywouldbequitesatisfied；why，thefellowwouldnotbeabletoshowhisfaceatfairormerry—makingforayearandthree—quarters。"

"Didyouevertryit，Ursula？"

"Can’tsayIeverdid，brother，butitwoulddo。"

"Andhowdidyoueverlearnsuchamethodofproceeding？"

"Why，’tisadvisedbygypsyliri，brother。It’spartofourwayofsettlingdifficultiesamongstourselves；forexample，ifayoungRomanweretosaythethingwhichisnotrespectingUrsulaandhimself，Ursulawouldcallagreatmeetingofthepeople，whowouldallsitdowninaring，theyoungfellowamongstthem；acokowouldthenputastickinUrsula’shand，whowouldthengetupandgototheyoungfellow，andsay，’DidIplaythe—withyou？’andwerehetosay’Yes，’shewouldcrackhisheadbeforetheeyesofall。"

"Well，"saidI，"Ursula，Iwasbredanapprenticetogorgiolaw，andofcourseoughttostandupforit，wheneverI

conscientiouslycan，butImustsaythegypsymannerofbringinganactionfordefamationismuchlesstedious，andfarmoresatisfactory，thanthegorgikoone。Iwishyounowtoclearupacertainpointwhichisrathermysterioustome。

YousaythatforaRomanychitodowhatisunseemlywithagorgioisquiteoutofthequestion，yetonlytheotherdayI

heardyousingingasonginwhichaRomanychiconfessesherselftobecambribyagrandgorgiousgentleman。"

"Asadletdown，"saidUrsula。

"Well，"saidI，"sadornot，there’sthesongthatspeaksofthething，whichyougivemetounderstandisnot。"

"Well，ifthethingeverwas，"saidUrsula，"itwasalongtimeago，andperhaps，afterall，nottrue。"

"Thenwhydoyousingthesong？"

"I’lltellyou，brother，wesingsthesongnowandthentobeawarningtoourselvestohaveaslittletodoaspossibleinthewayofacquaintancewiththegorgios；andawarningitis；youseehowtheyoungwomaninthesongwasdrivenoutofhertentbyhermother，withallkindofdisgraceandbadlanguage；butyoudon’tknowthatshewasafterwardsburiedalivebyhercokosandpals，inanuninhabitedplace；thesongdoesn’tsayit，butthestorysaysit，forthereisastoryaboutit，though，asIsaidbefore，itwasalongtimeago，andperhaps，afterall，wasn’ttrue。"

"Butifsuchathingweretohappenatpresent，wouldthecokosandpalsburythegirlalive？"

"Ican’tsaywhattheywoulddo，"saidUrsula；"Isupposetheyarenotsostrictastheywerelongago；atanyrate，shewouldbedrivenfromthetan，andavoidedbyallherfamilyandrelationsasagorgio’sacquaintance；sothat，perhaps，atlast，shewouldbegladiftheywouldburyheralive。"

"Well，IcanconceivethattherewouldbeanobjectiononthepartofthecokosandbatusthataRomanychishouldformanimproperacquaintancewithagorgio，butIshouldthinkthatthebatusandcokoscouldhardlyobjecttothechi’senteringintothehonourableestateofwedlockwithagorgio。"

Ursulawassilent。

"Marriageisanhonourableestate，Ursula。"

"Well，brother，supposeitbe？"

"Idon’tseewhyaRomanychishouldobjecttoenterintothehonourableestateofwedlockwithagorgio。"

"Youdon’t，brother；don’tyou？"

"No，"saidI；"and，moreover，Iamaware，notwithstandingyourevasion，Ursula，thatmarriagesandconnectionsnowandthenoccurbetweengorgiosandRomanychies；theresultofwhichisthemixedbreed，calledhalfandhalf，whichisatpresenttravellingaboutEngland，andtowhichtheFlamingTinmanbelongs，otherwisecalledAnseloHerne。"

"Asforthehalfandhalfs，"saidUrsula，"theyareabadset；andthereisnotaworseblackguardinEnglandthanAnseloHerne。"

"Allthatyousaymaybeverytrue，Ursula，butyouadmitthattherearehalfandhalfs。"

"Themore’sthepity，brother。"

"Pity，ornot，youadmitthefact；buthowdoyouaccountforit？"

"HowdoIaccountforit？why，Iwilltellyou，bythebreakupofaRomanfamily，brother—thefatherofasmallfamilydies，and，perhaps，themother；andthepoorchildrenareleftbehind；sometimes，theyaregatheredupbytheirrelations，andsometimes，iftheyhavenone，bycharitableRomans，whobringthemupintheobservanceofgypsylaw；butsometimestheyarenotsolucky，andfallsintothecompanyofgorgios，trampers，andbasket—makers，wholiveincaravans，withwhomtheytakeup，andso—Ihatetotalkofthematter，brother；butsocomesthisraceofthehalfandhalfs。"

"Thenyoumeantosay，Ursula，thatnoRomanychi，unlesscompelledbyhardnecessity，wouldhaveanythingtodowithagorgio？"

"Wearenotover—fondofgorgios，brother，andwehatesbasket—makers，andfolksthatliveincaravans。"

"Well，"saidI，"supposeagorgiowhoisnotabasket—maker，afine，handsomegorgiousgentleman，wholivesinafinehouse—"

"Wearenotfondofhouses，brother；Ineversleptinahouseinmylife。"

"Butwouldnotplentyofmoneyinduceyou？"

"Ihatehouses，brother，andthosewholiveinthem。"

"Well，supposesuchapersonwerewillingtoresignhisfinehouse；and，forloveofyou，toadoptgypsylaw，speakRomany，andliveinatan，wouldyouhavenothingtosaytohim？"

"Bringingplentyofmoneywithhim，brother？"

"Well，bringingplentyofmoneywithhim，Ursula。"

"Well，brother，supposeyouproduceyourman；whereishe？"

"Iwasmerelysupposingsuchaperson，Ursula。"

"Thenyoudon’tknowofsuchaperson，brother？"

"Why，no，Ursula；whydoyouask？"

"Because，brother，Iwasalmostbeginningtothinkthatyoumeantyourself。"

"Myself！Ursula；Ihavenofinehousetoresign；norhaveI

money。Moreover，Ursula，thoughIhaveagreatregardforyou，andthoughIconsideryouveryhandsome，quiteashandsome，indeed，asMeridianain—"

"Meridiana！wheredidyoumeetwithher？"saidUrsula，withatossofherhead。

"Why，inoldPulci’s—"

"AtoldFulcher’s！that’snottrue，brother。MeridianaisaBorzlam，andtravelswithherownpeople，andnotwitholdFulcher，whoisagorgio，andabasket—maker。"

"IwasnotspeakingofoldFulcher，butPulci，agreatItalianwriter，wholivedmanyhundredyearsago，andwho，inhispoemcalled’MorganteMaggiore，’speaksofMeridiana，thedaughterof—"

"OldCarusBorzlam，"saidUrsula；"butifthefellowyoumentionlivedsomanyhundredyearsago，how，inthenameofwonder，couldheknowanythingofMeridiana？"

"Thewonder，Ursula，is，howyourpeoplecouldeverhavegotholdofthatname，andsimilarones。TheMeridianaofPulciwasnotthedaughterofoldCarusBorzlam，butofCaradoro，agreatpagankingoftheEast，who，beingbesiegedinhiscapitalbyManfredonio，anothermightypaganking，whowishedtoobtainpossessionofhisdaughter，whohadrefusedhim，wasrelievedinhisdistressbycertainpaladinsofCharlemagne，withoneofwhom，Oliver，hisdaughterMeridianafellinlove。"

"Isee，"said，Ursula，"thatitmusthavebeenaltogetheradifferentperson，forIamsurethatMeridianaBorzlamwouldneverhavefalleninlovewithOliver。Oliver！why，thatisthenameofthecuro—mengro，wholostthefightnearthechonggav，thedayofthegreattempest，whenIgotwetthrough。No，no！MeridianaBorzlamwouldneverhavesofarforgotherbloodastotakeupwithTomOliver。"

"IwasnottalkingofthatOliver，Ursula，butofOliver，peerofFrance，andpaladinofCharlemagne，withwhomMeridiana，daughterofCaradoro，fellinlove，andforwhosesakesherenouncedherreligionandbecameaChristian，andfinallyingravidata，orcambri，byhim：—

’Enacqueneunfigliuol，dicelastoria，ChedetteaCarlo—manpoigranvittoria；’

whichmeans—"

"Idon’twanttoknowwhatitmeans，"saidUrsula；"nogood，I’msure。Well，iftheMeridianaofCharles’swain’spalwasnohandsomerthanMeridianaBorzlam，shewasnogreatcatch，brother；forthoughIambynomeansgiventovanity，Ithinkmyselfbettertolookatthanshe，thoughIwillsaysheisnolubbeny，andwouldscorn—"

"Imakenodoubtshewould，Ursula，andImakenodoubtthatyouaremuchhandsomerthanshe，oreventheMeridianaofOliver。WhatIwasabouttosay，beforeyouinterruptedme，isthis，thatthoughIhaveagreatregardforyou，andhighlyadmireyou，itisonlyinabrotherlyway，and—"

"Andyouhadnothingbettertosaytome，"saidUrsula，"whenyouwantedtotalktomebeneathahedge，thanthatyoulikedmeinabrotherlywayIwell，Ideclare—"

"Youseemdisappointed，Ursula。"

"Disappointed，brother！notI。"

"Youwerejustnowsayingthatyoudislikedgorgios，so，ofcourse，couldonlywishthatI，whoamagorgio，shouldlikeyouinabrotherlyway：Iwishedtohaveaconversationwithyoubeneathahedge，butonlywiththeviewofprocuringfromyousomeinformationrespectingthesongwhichyousungtheotherday，andtheconductofRomanfemales，whichhasalwaysstruckmeasbeinghighlyunaccountable；so，ifyouthoughtanythingelse—"

"WhatelseshouldIexpectfromapicker—upofoldwords，brother？Bah！Idislikeapicker—upofoldwordsworsethanapicker—upofoldrags。"

"Don’tbeangry，Ursula，Ifeelagreatinterestinyou；youareveryhandsome，andveryclever；indeed，withyourbeautyandcleverness，Ionlywonderthatyouhavenotlongsincebeenmarried。"

"Youdo，doyou，brother？"

"Yes。However，keepupyourspirits，Ursula，youarenotmuchpasttheprimeofyouth，so—"

"Notmuchpasttheprimeofyouth！Don’tbeuncivil，brother，Iwasonlytwenty—twolastmonth。"

"Don’tbeoffended，Ursula，buttwenty—twoistwenty—two，or，Ishouldrathersay，thattwenty—twoinawomanismorethantwenty—sixinaman。Youarestillverybeautiful，butI

adviseyoutoacceptthefirstofferthat’smadetoyou。"

"Thankyou，brother，butyouradvicecomesratherlate；I

acceptedthefirstofferthatwasmademefiveyearsago。"

"Youmarriedfiveyearsago，Ursula！isitpossible？"

"Quitepossible，brother，Iassureyou。"

"AndhowcameItoknownothingaboutit？"

"Howcomesitthatyoudon’tknowmanythousandthingsabouttheRomans，brother？Doyouthinktheytellyoualltheiraffairs？"

"Married，Ursula，married！well，Ideclare！"

"Youseemdisappointed，brother。"

"Disappointed！Oh！no，notatall；butJasper，onlyafewweeksago，toldmethatyouwerenotmarried；and，indeed，almostgavemetounderstandthatyouwouldbeverygladtogetahusband。"

"Andyoubelievedhim？I’lltellyou，brother，foryourinstruction，thatthereisnotinthewholeworldagreaterliarthanJasperPetulengro。"

"Iamsorrytohearit，Ursula；butwithrespecttohimyoumarried—whomighthebe？Agorgio，oraRomanychal？"

"Gorgio，orRomanychal！DoyouthinkIwouldevercondescendtoagorgio！ItwasaCamomescro，brother，aLovell，adistantrelationofmyown。"

"Andwhereishe？andwhatbecameofhim！Haveyouanyfamily？"

"Don’tthinkIamgoingtotellyouallmyhistory，brother；

and，totellyouthetruth，Iamtiredofsittingunderhedgeswithyou，talkingnonsense。Ishallgotomyhouse。"

"Dositalittlelonger，sisterUrsula。Imostheartilycongratulateyouonyourmarriage。ButwhereisthissameLovell？Ihaveneverseenhim：Iwishtocongratulatehimtoo。YouarequiteashandsomeastheMeridianaofPulci，Ursula，ay，ortheDespinaofRiciardetto。Riciardetto，Ursula，isapoemwrittenbyoneFortiguerra，aboutninetyyearsago，inimitationoftheMorganteofPulci。IttreatsofthewarsofCharlemagneandhisPaladinswithvariousbarbarousnations，whocametobesiegeParis。DespinawasthedaughterandheiressofScricca，KingofCafria；shewasthebelovedofRiciardetto，andwasbeautifulasanangel；

butImakenodoubtyouarequiteashandsomeasshe。"

"Brother，"saidUrsula—butthereplyofUrsulaIreserveforanotherchapter，thepresenthavingattainedtoratheranuncommonlength，forwhich，however，theimportanceofthematterdiscussedisasufficientapology。

CHAPTERXI

Ursula’sTale—ThePatteran—TheDeepWater—SecondHusband。

"BROTHER，"saidUrsula，pluckingadandelionwhichgrewatherfeet，"Ihavealwayssaidthatamorecivilandpleasant—

spokenpersonthanyourselfcan’tbefound。Ihaveagreatregardforyouandyourlearning，andamwillingtodoyouanypleasureinthewayofwordsorconversation。Mineisnotaveryhappystory，butasyouwishtohearit，itisquiteatyourservice。LauncelotLovellmademeanoffer，asyoucallit，andweweremarriedinRomanfashion；thatis，wegaveeachotherourrighthands，andpromisedtobetruetoeachother。Welivedtogethertwoyears，travellingsometimesbyourselves，sometimeswithourrelations；Iborehimtwochildren，bothofwhichwerestill—born，partly，I

believe，fromthefatigueIunderwentinrunningaboutthecountrytellingdukkerinwhenIwasnotexactlyinastatetodoso，andpartlyfromthekicksandblowswhichmyhusbandLauncelotwasinthehabitofgivingmeeverynight，providedIcamehomewithlessthanfiveshillings，whichitissometimesimpossibletomakeinthecountry，providednofairormerry—makingisgoingon。Attheendoftwoyearsmyhusband，Launcelot，whistledahorsefromafarmer’sfield，andsolditforforty—pounds；andforthathorsehewastaken，putinprison，tried，andcondemnedtobesenttotheothercountryforlife。Twodaysbeforehewastobesentaway，Igotleavetoseehimintheprison，andinthepresenceoftheturnkeyIgavehimathincakeofgingerbread，inwhichtherewasadaintysawwhichcouldcutthroughiron。Ithentookonwonderfully，turnedmyeyesinsideout，felldowninaseemingfit，andwascarriedoutoftheprison。Thatsamenightmyhusbandsawedhisironsoff，cutthroughthebarsofhiswindow，anddroppingdownaheightoffiftyfeet，lightedonhislegs，andcameandjoinedmeonaheathwhereIwascampedalone。Wewerejustgettingthingsreadytobeoff，whenweheardpeoplecoming，andsureenoughtheywererunnersaftermyhusband，LauncelotLovell；forhisescapehadbeendiscoveredwithinaquarterofanhourafterhehadgotaway。Myhusband，withoutbiddingmefarewell，setoffatfullspeed，andtheyafterhim，buttheycouldnottakehim，andsotheycamebackandtookme，andshookme，andthreatenedme，andhadmebeforethepoknees，whoshookhisheadatme，andthreatenedmeinordertomakemediscoverwheremyhusbandwas，butIsaidI

didnotknow，whichwastrueenough；notthatIwouldhavetoldhimifIhad。Soatlastthepokneesandtherunners，notbeingabletomakeanythingoutofme，wereobligedtoletmego，andIwentinsearchofmyhusband。IwanderedaboutwithmycartforseveraldaysinthedirectioninwhichIsawhimrunoff，withmyeyesbentontheground，butcouldseenomarksofhim；atlast，comingtofourcrossroads，I

sawmyhusband’spatteran。"

"Yousawyourhusband’spatteran？"

"Yes，brother。Doyouknowwhatpatteranmeans？"

"Ofcourse，Ursula；thegypsytrail，thehandfulofgrasswhichthegypsiesstrewintheroadsastheytravel，togiveinformationtoanyoftheircompanionswhomaybebehind，astotheroutetheyhavetaken。Thegypsypatteranhasalwayshadastrangeinterestforme，Ursula。"

"Likeenough，brother；butwhatdoespatteranmean？"

"Why，thegypsytrail，formedasItoldyoubefore。"

"Andyouknownothingmoreaboutpatteran，brother？"

"Nothingatall，Ursula；doyou？"

"What’sthenamefortheleafofatree，brother？"

"Idon’tknow，"saidI；"it’soddenoughthatIhaveaskedthatquestionofadozenRomanychalsandchies，andtheyalwaystoldmethattheydidnotknow。"

"Nomoretheydid，brother；there’sonlyonepersoninEnglandthatknows，andthat’smyself—thenameforaleafispatteran。Nowtherearetwothatknowsit—theotherisyourself。"

"Dearme，Ursula，howverystrange！Iammuchobligedtoyou。IthinkIneversawyoulooksoprettyasyoudonow；

butwhotoldyou？"

"Mymother，Mrs。Herne，tolditmeoneday，brother，whenshewasinagoodhumour，whichsheveryseldomwas，asnoonehasabetterrighttoknowthanyourself，asshehatedyoumortally：itwasonedaywhenyouhadbeenaskingourcompanywhatwasthewordforaleaf，andnobodycouldtellyou，thatshetookmeasideandtoldme，forshewasinagoodhumour，andtriumphedinseeingyoubalked。Shetoldmethewordforleafwaspatteran，whichourpeopleusenowfortrail，havingforgottenthetruemeaning。Shesaidthatthetrailwascalledpatteran，becausethegypsiesofoldwereinthehabitofmakingthemarkswiththeleavesandbranchesoftrees，placedinacertainmanner。Shesaidthatnobodyknewitbutherself，whowasoneoftheoldsort，andbeggedmenevertotellthewordtoanyonebuthimIshouldmarry；andtobeparticularlycautiousnevertoletyouknowit，whomshehated。Well，brother，perhapsIhavedonewrongtotellyou；

but，asIsaidbefore，Ilikesyou，andamalwaysreadytodoyourpleasureinwordsandconversation；mymother，moreover，isdeadandgone，and，poorthing，willneverknowanythingaboutthematter。So，whenImarried，Itoldmyhusbandaboutthepatteran，andwewereinthehabitofmakingourprivatetrailswithleavesandbranchesoftrees，whichnoneoftheothergypsypeopledid；so，whenIsawmyhusband’spatteran，Iknewitatonce，andIfolloweditupwardsoftwohundredmilestowardsthenorth；andthenIcametoadeep，awful—lookingwater，withanoverhangingbank，andonthebankIfoundthepatteran，whichdirectedmetoproceedalongthebanktowardstheeast，andIfollowedmyhusband’spatterantowardstheeast；andbeforeIhadgonehalfamile，IcametoaplacewhereIsawthebankhadgivenway，andfallenintothedeepwater。Withoutpayingmuchheed，I

passedon，andpresentlycametoapublic—house，notfarfromthewater，andIenteredthepublic—housetogetalittlebeer，andperhapstotelladukkerin，forIsawagreatmanypeopleaboutthedoor；and，whenIentered，Ifoundtherewaswhattheycallsaninquestbeinghelduponabodyinthathouse，andthejuryhadjustrisentogoandlookatthebody；andbeingawoman，andhavingacuriosity，IthoughtI

wouldgowiththem，andsoIdid；andnosoonerdidIseethebody，thanIknewittobemyhusband’s；itwasmuchswelledandaltered，butIknewitpartlybytheclothes，andpartlybyamarkontheforehead，andIcriedout，’Itismyhusband’sbody，’andIfelldowninafit，andthefitthattime，brother，wasnotaseemingone。"

"Dearme，"saidI，"howterrible！buttellme，Ursula，howdidyourhusbandcomebyhisdeath？"

"Thebank，overhangingthedeepwater，gavewayunderhim，brother，andhewasdrowned；for，likemostofourpeople，hecouldnotswim，oronlyalittle。Thebody，afterithadbeeninthewateralongtime，cameupofitself，andwasfoundfloating。Well，brother，whenthepeopleoftheneighbourhoodfoundthatIwasthewifeofthedrownedman，theywereverykindtome，andmadeasubscriptionforme，withwhich，afterhavingseenmyhusbandburied，IreturnedthewayIhadcome，tillImetJasperandhispeople，andwiththemIhavetravelledeversince：Iwasverymelancholyforalongtime，Iassureyou，brother；forthedeathofmyhusbandpreyedverymuchuponmymind。"

"Hisdeathwascertainlyaveryshockingone，Ursula；but，really，ifhehaddiedanaturalone，youcouldscarcelyhaveregrettedit，forheappearstohavetreatedyoubarbarously。"

"Womenmustbear，brother；and，barringthathekickedandbeatme，anddrovemeouttotelldukkerinwhenIcouldscarcelystand，hewasnotabadhusband。Aman，bygypsylaw，brother，isallowedtokickandbeathiswife，andtoburyheralive，ifhethinksproper。Iamagypsy，andhavenothingtosayagainstthelaw。"

"ButwhathasMikailiaChiknotosayaboutit？"

"Sheisacripple，brother，theonlycrippleamongsttheRomanpeople：sosheisallowedtodoandsayasshepleases。

Moreover，herhusbanddoesnotthinkfittokickorbeather，thoughitismyopinionshewouldlikehimallthebetterifhewereoccasionallytodoso，andthreatentoburyheralive；atanyrate，shewouldtreathimbetter，andrespecthimmore。"

"YoursisterdoesnotseemtostandmuchinaweofJasperPetulengro，Ursula。"

"LetthemattersofmysisterandJasperPetulengroalone，brother；youmusttravelintheircompanysometimebeforeyoucanunderstandthem；theyareastrangetwo，uptoallkindofchaffing：buttwomoreregularRomansdon’tbreathe，andI’lltellyou，foryourinstruction，thatthereisn’tabettermare—breakerinEnglandthanJasperPetulengro，ifyoucanmanageMissIsopelBernersaswellas—"

"IsopelBerners，"saidI，"howcameyoutothinkofher？"

"HowshouldIbutthinkofher，brother，livingasshedoeswithyouinMumper’sdingle，andtravellingaboutwithyou；

youwillhave，brother，moredifficultytomanageher，thanJasperhastomanagemysisterPakomovna。Ishouldhavementionedherbefore，onlyIwantedtoknowwhatyouhadtosaytome；andwhenwegotintodiscourse，Iforgother。I

say，brother，letmetellyouyourdukkerin，withrespecttoher，youwillnever—"

"Iwanttohearnodukkerin，Ursula。"

"Doletmetellyouyourdukkerin，brother，youwillnevermanage—"

"Iwanttohearnodukkerin，Ursula，inconnectionwithIsopelBerners。Moreover，itisSunday，wewillchangethesubject；itissurprisingtomethat，afterallyouhaveundergone，youshouldlooksobeautiful。Isupposeyoudonotthinkofmarryingagain，Ursula？"

"No，brother，onehusbandatatimeisquiteenoughforanyreasonablemort；especiallysuchagoodhusbandasIhavegot。"

"Suchagoodhusband！why，Ithoughtyoutoldmeyourhusbandwasdrowned？"

"Yes，brother，myfirsthusbandwas。"

"Andhaveyouasecond？"

"Tobesure，brother。"

"Andwhoishe？inthenameofwonder。"

"Whoishe？whySylvester，tobesure。"

"Idoassureyou，Ursula，thatIfeeldisposedtobeangrywithyou；suchahandsomeyoungwomanasyourselftotakeupwithsuchanastypepper—facedgoodfornothing—"

"Iwon’thearmyhusbandabused，brother；soyouhadbettersaynomore。"

"Why，ishenottheLazarusofthegypsies？hasheapennyofhisown，Ursula？"

"Thenthemorehiswant，brother，ofacleverchilikemetotakecareofhimandhischilder。Itellyouwhat，brother，Iwillchore，ifnecessary，andtelldukkerinforSylvester，ifevensoheavyasscarcelytobeabletostand。Youcallhimlazy；youwouldnotthinkhimlazyifyouwereinaringwithhim：heisapropermanwithhishands；JasperisgoingtobackhimfortwentypoundsagainstSlammocksoftheChonggav，thebrotherofRoarerandBell—metal，hesayshehasnodoubtthathewillwin。"

"Well，ifyoulikehim，I，ofcourse，canhavenoobjection。

Haveyoubeenlongmarried？"

"Aboutafortnight，brother；thatdinner，theotherday，whenIsangthesong，wasgivenincelebrationofthewedding。"

"Wereyoumarriedinachurch，Ursula？"

"Wewerenot，brother；nonebutgorgios，cripples，andlubbenysareevermarriedinachurch：wetookeachother’swords。Brother，Ihavebeenwithyounearthreehoursbeneaththishedge。Iwillgotomyhusband。"

"Doesheknowthatyouarehere？"

"Hedoes，brother。"

"Andishesatisfied？"