andIamthinkingofgoingintothestableandhangingmyself；andperhapsit’sthebestthingIcando，forit’sbettertohangmyselfbeforesellingmysoulthanafterwards，asI’msureIshould，likeJudasIscariot，whommypoorniece，whoissomewhatreligiouslyinclined，hasbeentalkingtomeabout。\"\"IwishIcouldassistyou，\"saidI，\"withmoney，butthatisquiteoutofmypower。However，Icangiveyouapieceofadvice。Don’tchangeyourreligionbyanymeans；youcan’thopetoprosperifyoudo；andifthebrewerchoosestodealhardlywithyou，lethim。Everybodywouldrespectyoutentimesmoreprovidedyouallowedyourselftobeturnedintotheroadsratherthanchangeyourreligion，thanifyougotfiftypoundsforrenouncingit。\"
\"Iamhalfinclinedtotakeyouradvice，\"saidthelandlord，\"only，totellyouthetruth，Ifeelquitelow，withoutanyheartinme。\"\"Comeintothebar，\"saidI，\"andletushavesomethingtogether—youneednotbeafraidofmynotpayingforwhatIorder。\"
Wewentintothebar—room，wherethelandlordandIdiscussedbetweenustwobottlesofstrongale，whichhesaidwerepartofthelastsixwhichhehadinhispossession。Atfirsthewishedtodrinksherry，butIbeggedhimtodonosuchthing，tellinghimthatsherrywoulddohimnogoodunderthepresentcircumstances；nor，indeed，tothebestofmybelief，underany，itbeingofallwinestheoneforwhichI
entertainedthemostcontempt。Thelandlordallowedhimselftobedissuaded，and，afteraglassortwoofale，confessedthatsherrywasasickly，disagreeabledrink，andthathehadmerelybeeninthehabitoftakingitfromanideahehadthatitwasgenteel。Whilstquaffingourbeverage，hegavemeanaccountofthevariousmortificationstowhichhehadoflatebeensubject，dwellingwithparticularbitternessontheconductofHunter，whohesaidcameeverynightandmouthedhim，andafterwardswentawaywithoutpayingforwhathehaddrankorsmoked，inwhichconducthewascloselyimitatedbyaclanoffellowswhoconstantlyattendedhim。
Afterspendingseveralhoursatthepublic—houseIdeparted，notforgettingtopayforthetwobottlesofale。Thelandlord，beforeIwent，shakingmebythehand，declaredthathehadnowmadeuphismindtosticktohisreligionatallhazards，themoreespeciallyashewasconvincedheshouldderivenogoodbygivingitup。
CHAPTERXIV
PreparationsfortheFair—TheLastLesson—TheVerbSiriel。
ITmightbeaboutfiveintheevening，whenIreachedthegypsyencampment。HereIfoundMr。Petulengro，TawnoChikno，Sylvester，andothersinagreatbustle，clippingandtrimmingcertainponiesandoldhorseswhichtheyhadbroughtwiththem。OninquiringofJasperthereasonoftheirbeingsoengaged，heinformedmethattheyweregettingthehorsesreadyforafair，whichwastoheheldonthemorrow，ataplacesomemilesdistant，atwhichtheyshouldendeavourtodisposeofthem，adding—\"Perhaps，brother，youwillgowithus，providedyouhavenothingbettertodo？\"Nothavinganyparticularengagement，IassuredhimthatIshouldhavegreatpleasureinbeingoftheparty。Itwasagreedthatweshouldstartearlyonthefollowingmorning。ThereuponIdescendedintothedingle。Bellewassittingbeforethefire，atwhichthekettlewasboiling。\"Wereyouwaitingforme？\"I
inquired。\"Yes，\"saidBelle，\"Ithoughtthatyouwouldcome，andIwaitedforyou。\"\"Thatwasverykind，\"saidI。\"Nothalfsokind，\"saidshe，\"asitwasofyoutogeteverythingreadyformeinthedeadoflastnight，whentherewasscarcelyachanceofmycoming。\"Thetea—thingswerebroughtforward，andwesatdown。\"Haveyoubeenfar？\"saidBelle。
\"Merelytothatpublic—house，\"saidI，\"towhichyoudirectedmeontheseconddayofouracquaintance。\"\"Youngmenshouldnotmakeahabitofvisitingpublic—houses，\"saidBelle，\"theyarebadplaces。\"\"Theymaybesotosomepeople，\"saidI，\"butIdonotthinktheworstpublic—houseinEnglandcoulddomeanyharm。\"\"Perhapsyouaresobadalready，\"
saidBelle，withasmile，\"thatitwouldbeimpossibletospoilyou。\"\"Howdareyoucatchatmywords？\"saidI；\"come，Iwillmakeyoupayfordoingso—youshallhavethiseveningthelongestlessoninArmenianwhichIhaveyetinflicteduponyou。\"\"Youmaywellsayinflicted，\"saidBelle，\"butprayspareme。IdonotwishtohearanythingaboutArmenian，especiallythisevening。\"\"Whythisevening？\"saidI。Bellemadenoanswer。\"Iwillnotspareyou，\"saidI；\"thiseveningIintendtomakeyouconjugateanArmenianverb。\"\"Well，beitso，\"saidBelle；\"forthiseveningyoushallcommand。\"\"Tocommandishramahyel，\"saidI。\"Ramherill，indeed，\"saidBelle；\"Idonotwishtobeginwiththat。\"\"No，\"saidI，\"aswehavecometotheverbs，wewillbeginregularly；hramahyelisaverbofthesecondconjugation。Wewillbeginwiththefirst。\"\"Firstofalltellme，\"saidBelle，\"whataverbis？\"\"Apartofspeech，\"saidI，\"which，accordingtothedictionary，signifiessomeactionorpassion；forexample，Icommandyou，orIhateyou。\"\"Ihavegivenyounocausetohateme，\"saidBelle，lookingmesorrowfullyintheface。
\"Iwasmerelygivingtwoexamples，\"saidI，\"andneitherwasdirectedatyou。Inthoseexamples，tocommandandhateareverbs。Belle，inArmeniantherearefourconjugationsofverbs；thefirstendsinal，thesecondinyel，thethirdinoul，andthefourthinil。Now，haveyouunderstoodme？\"
\"Iamafraid，indeed，itwillallendill，\"saidBelle。
\"Holdyourtongue，\"saidI，\"oryouwillmakemelosemypatience。\"\"Youhavealreadymademenearlylosemine，\"saidBelle。\"Letushavenounprofitableinterruptions，\"saidI；
\"theconjugationsoftheArmenianverbsareneithersonumerousnorsodifficultasthedeclensionsofthenouns；
hearthat，andrejoice。Come，wewillbeginwiththeverbhntal，averbofthefirstconjugation，whichsignifiestorejoice。Comealong；hntam，Irejoice；hntas，thourejoicest；whydon’tyoufollow，Belle？\"
\"IamsureIdon’trejoice，whateveryoumaydo，\"saidBelle。
\"Thechiefdifficulty，Belle，\"saidI，\"thatIfindinteachingyoutheArmeniangrammar，proceedsfromyourapplyingtoyourselfandmeeveryexampleIgive。Rejoice，inthisinstance，ismerelyanexampleofanArmenianverbofthefirstconjugation，andhasnomoretodowithyourrejoicingthanlal，whichis，alsoaverbofthefirstconjugation，andwhichsignifiestoweep，wouldhavetodowithyourweeping，providedImadeyouconjugateit。Comealong；hntam，Irejoice；hntas，thourejoicest；hnta，herejoices；hntamkwerejoice：now，repeatthosewords。\"
\"Ican’t，\"saidBelle，\"theysoundmorelikethelanguageofhorsesthanhumanbeings。Doyoutakemefor—？\"\"Forwhat？\"saidI。Bellewassilent。\"Wereyougoingtosaymare？\"saidI。\"Mare！mare！bythebye，doyouknow，Belle，thatmareinoldEnglishstandsforwoman；andthatwhenwecallafemaleanevilmare，thestrictmeaningofthetermismerelyabadwoman。SoifIweretocallyouamarewithoutprefixingbad，youmustnotbeoffended。\"\"ButIshouldthough，\"saidBelle。\"Iwasmerelyattemptingtomakeyouacquaintedwithaphilologicalfact，\"saidI。\"Ifmare，whichinoldEnglish，andlikewiseinvulgarEnglish，signifiesawoman，soundsthesameasmare，whichinmodernandpoliteEnglishsignifiesafemalehorse，Ican’thelpit。
ThereisnosuchconfusionofsoundsinArmenian，not，atleast，inthesameinstance。Belle，inArmenian，womanisghin，thesameword，bytheby，asourqueen，whereasmareismadaghtzi，whichsignifiesafemalehorse；andperhapsyouwillpermitmetoadd，thatahard—mouthedjadeis，inArmenian，madaghtzihsdierah。\"
\"Ican’tbearthismuchlonger，\"saidBelle。\"Keepyourselfquiet，\"saidI；\"Iwishtobegentlewithyou；andtoconvinceyou，wewillskiphntal，andalsoforthepresentverbsofthefirstconjugationandproceedtothesecond。
Belle，IwillnowselectforyoutoconjugatetheprettiestverbinArmenian；notonlyofthesecond，butalsoofallthefourconjugations；thatverbissiriel。Hereisthepresenttense：—siriem，siries，sire，siriemk，sirek，sirien。Youobservethatitrunsonjustinthesamemannerashntal，saveandexceptthattheeissubstitutedfora；anditwillbeaswelltotellyouthatalmosttheonlydifferencebetweenthesecond，third，andfourthconjugation，andthefirst，isthesubstitutinginthepresent，preteriteandothertenseseorou，orifora；soyouseethattheArmenianverbsarebynomeansdifficult。Comeon，Belle，andsaysiriem。\"Bellehesitated。\"Prayobligeme，Belle，bysayingsiriem！\"Bellestillappearedtohesitate。\"Youmustadmit，Belle，thatitismuchsofterthanhntam。\"\"Itisso，\"saidBelle；\"andtoobligeyouIwillsaysiriem。\"
\"Verywellindeed，Belle，\"saidI。\"Novartabied，ordoctor，couldhavepronounceditbetter；andnow，toshowyouhowverbsactuponpronounsinArmenian，Iwillsaysiriemzkiez。
Pleasetorepeatsiriemzkiez！\"\"Siriemzkiez！\"saidBelle；
\"thatlastwordisveryhardtosay。\"\"Sorrythatyouthinkso，Belle，\"saidI。\"Nowpleasetosaysiriazis。\"Belledidso。\"Exceedinglywell，\"saidI。\"Nowsay，yeranithesireirzis。\"\"Yeranithesireirzis，\"saidBelle。
\"Capital！\"saidI；\"youhavenowsaid，Iloveyou—loveme—
ah！wouldthatyouwouldloveme！\"
\"AndIhavesaidallthesethings？\"saidBelle。\"Yes，\"saidI；\"youhavesaidtheminArmenian。\"\"IwouldhavesaidtheminnolanguagethatIunderstood，\"saidBelle；\"anditwasverywrongofyoutotakeadvantageofmyignorance，andmakemesaysuchthings。\"\"Whyso？\"saidI；\"ifyousaidthem，I
saidthemtoo。\"\"Youdidso，\"saidBelle；\"butIbelieveyouweremerelybanteringandjeering。\"\"AsItoldyoubefore，Belle，\"saidI，\"thechiefdifficultywhichIfindinteachingyouArmenianproceedsfromyourpersistinginapplyingtoyourselfandmeeveryexampleIgive。\"\"Thenyoumeantnothingafterall，\"saidBelle，raisinghervoice。
\"Letusproceed，\"saidI；\"sirietsi，Iloved。\"\"Youneverlovedanyonebutyourself，\"saidBelle；\"andwhat’smore—\"
\"Sirietsits，Iwilllove，\"saidI；\"sirietsies，thouwiltlove。\"\"Neveronesothoroughlyheartless，\"saidBelle。\"I
tellyouwhat，Belle，youarebecomingintolerable，butwewillchangetheverb；orratherIwillnowproceedtotellyouhere，thatsomeoftheArmenianconjugationshavetheiranomalies；onespeciesoftheseIwishtobringbeforeyournotice。AsoldVillottesays—fromwhoseworkIfirstcontrivedtopickuptherudimentsofArmenian—’Estverborumtransitivorum，quoruminfinitivus—’butIforgot，youdon’tunderstandLatin。Hesaystherearecertaintransitiveverbs，whoseinfinitiveisinoutsaniel；thepreteriteinoutsi；theimperativeinone；forexample—
parghatsout—saniem，Iirritate—\"
\"Youdo，youdo，\"saidBelle；\"anditwillbebetterforbothofus，ifyouleaveoffdoingso。\"
\"Youwouldhardlybelieve，Belle，\"saidI，\"thattheArmenianisinsomerespectscloselyconnectedwiththeIrish，butsoitis；forexample，thatwordparghatsout—saniemisevidentlyderivedfromthesamerootasfeargaim，which，inIrish，isasmuchastosayIvex。\"
\"Youdo，indeed，\"saidBelle，sobbing。
\"Buthowdoyouaccountforit？\"
\"Oman，man！\"saidBelle，burstingintotears，\"forwhatpurposedoyouaskapoorignorantgirlsuchaquestion，unlessitbetovexandirritateher？Ifyouwishtodisplayyourlearning，dosotothewiseandinstructed，andnottome，whocanscarcelyreadorwrite。Oh，leaveoffyournonsense；yetIknowyouwillnotdoso，foritisthebreathofyournostrils！Icouldhavewishedweshouldhavepartedinkindness，butyouwillnotpermitit。Ihavedeservedbetteratyourhandsthansuchtreatment。Thewholetimewehavekeptcompanytogetherinthisplace，Ihavescarcelyhadonekindwordfromyou，butthestrangest—\"andherethevoiceofBellewasdrownedinhersobs。
\"Iamsorrytoseeyoutakeonso，dearBelle，\"saidI。\"I
reallyhavegivenyounocausetobesounhappy；surelyteachingyoualittleArmenianwasaveryinnocentkindofdiversion。\"
\"Yes，butyouwentonsolong，andinsuchastrangeway，andmademerepeatsuchstrangeexamples，asyoucallthem，thatIcouldnotbearit。\"
\"Why，totellyouthetruth，Belle，it’sjustmyway；andI
havedealtwithyoujustasIwouldwith—\"
\"Ahard—mouthedjade，\"saidBelle，\"andyoupractisingyourhorse—witcheryuponher。Ihavebeenofanunsubduedspirit，Iacknowledge，butIwasalwayskindtoyou；andifyouhavemademecry，it’sapoorthingtoboastof。\"
\"Boastof！\"saidI；\"aprettythingindeedtoboastof；Ihadnoideaofmakingyoucry。Come，Ibegyourpardon；whatmorecanIdo？Come，cheerup，Belle。Youweretalkingofparting；don’tletuspart，butdepart，andthattogether。\"
\"Ourwaysliedifferent，\"saidBelle。
\"Idon’tseewhytheyshould，\"saidI。\"Come，letusheofftoAmericatogether。\"
\"ToAmericatogether？\"saidBelle，lookingfullatme。
\"Yes，\"saidI；\"wherewewillsettledowninsomeforest，andconjugatetheverbsirielconjugally。\"
\"Conjugally？\"saidBelle。
\"Yes，\"saidI；\"asmanandwifeinAmerica，airyewghin。\"
\"Youarejesting，asusual，\"saidBelle。
\"NotI，indeed。Come，Belle，makeupyourmind，andletusbeofftoAmerica；andleavepriests，humbug，learning，andlanguagesbehindus。\"
\"Idon’tthinkyouarejesting，\"saidBelle；\"butIcanhardlyentertainyouroffers；however，youngman，Ithankyou。\"
\"Youhadbettermakeupyourmindatonce，\"saidI，\"andletusbeoff。Ishan’tmakeabadhusband，Iassureyou。
PerhapsyouthinkIamnotworthyofyou？Toconvinceyou，Belle，thatIam，Iamreadytotryafallwithyouthismomentuponthegrass。Brynhilda，thevalkyrie，sworethatnooneshouldevermarryherwhocouldnotflingherdown。
Perhapsyouhavedonethesame。Themanwhoeventuallymarriedher，gotafriendofhis，whowascalledSygurd，theserpent—killer，towrestlewithher，disguisinghiminhisownarmour。Sygurdflungherdown，andwonherforhisfriend，thoughhelovedherhimself。Ishallnotuseasimilardeceit，noremployJasperPetulengrotopersonateme—sogetup，Belle，andIwilldomybesttoflingyoudown。\"
\"Irequirenosuchthingofyou，oranybody，\"saidBelle；
\"youarebeginningtolookratherwild。\"
\"Ieverynowandthendo，\"saidI；\"come，Belle，whatdoyousay？\"
\"Iwillsaynothingatpresentonthesubject，\"saidBelle，\"Imusthavetimetoconsider。\"
\"Justasyouplease，\"saidI，\"to—morrowIgotoafairwithMr。Petulengro，perhapsyouwillconsiderwhilstIamaway。
Come，Belle，letushavesomemoretea。IwonderwhetherweshallbeabletoprocureteaasgoodasthisintheAmericanforest。\"
CHAPTERXV
TheDawnofDay—TheLastFarewell—DeparturefortheFair—TheFineHorse—ReturntotheDingle—NoIsopel。
ITwasaboutthedawnofdaywhenIwasawakenedbythevoiceofMr。Petulengroshoutingfromthetopofthedingle，andbiddingmegetup。Iaroseinstantly，anddressedmyselffortheexpeditiontothefair。Onleavingmytent，IwassurprisedtoobserveBelle，entirelydressed，standingclosetoherownlittleencampment。\"Dearme，\"saidI，\"Ilittleexpectedtofindyouupsoearly。IsupposeJasper’scallawakenedyou，asitdidme。\"\"Imerelylaydowninmythings，\"saidBelle，\"andhavenotsleptduringthenight。\"
\"Andwhydidyounottakeoffyourthingsandgotosleep？\"
saidI。\"Ididnotundress，\"saidBelle，\"becauseIwishedtobeinreadinesstobidyoufarewellwhenyoudeparted；andasforsleeping，Icouldnot。\"\"Well，Godblessyou！\"saidI，takingBellebythehand。Bellemadenoanswer，andI
observedthatherhandwasverycold。\"Whatisthematterwithyou？\"saidI，lookingherintheface。Bellelookedatmeforamomentintheeyes—andthencastdownherown—
herfeatureswereverypale。\"Youarereallyunwell，\"saidI，\"Ihadbetternotgotothefair，butstayhere，andtakecareofyou。\"\"No，\"saidBelle，\"praygo，Iamnotunwell。\"
\"Thengotoyourtent，\"saidI，\"anddonotendangeryourhealthbystandingabroadintherawmorningair。Godblessyou，Belle。Ishallbehometo—night，bywhichtimeIexpectyouwillhavemadeupyourmind；ifnot，anotherlessoninArmenian，howeverlatethehourbe。\"IthenwrungBelle’shand，andascendedtotheplainabove。
IfoundtheRomanypartywaitingforme，andeverythinginreadinessfordeparting。Mr。PetulengroandTawnoChiknoweremountedontwooldhorses。Therest，whointendedtogotothefair，amongstwhomweretwoorthreewomen，wereonfoot。Onarrivingattheextremityoftheplain，Ilookedtowardsthedingle。IsopelBernersstoodatthemouth，thebeamsoftheearlymorningsunshonefullonhernoblefaceandfigure。Iwavedmyhandtowardsher。Sheslowlyliftedupherrightarm。Iturnedaway，andneversawIsopelBernersagain。
Mycompanionsandmyselfproceededonourway。Inabouttwohourswereachedtheplacewherethefairwastobeheld。
Afterbreakfastingonbreadandcheeseandalebehindabrokenstonewall，wedroveouranimalstothefair。Thefairwasacommoncattleandhorsefair：therewaslittlemerrimentgoingon，buttherewasnolackofbusiness。Byabouttwoo’clockintheafternoon，Mr。Petulengroandhispeoplehaddisposedoftheiranimalsatwhattheyconceivedveryfairprices—theywereallinhighspirits，andJasperproposedtoadjourntoapublic—house。Aswewereproceedingtoone，averyfinehorse，ledbyajockey，madeitsappearanceontheground。Mr。Petulengrostoppedshort，andlookedatitstedfastly：\"Finocovardoveodoysasmiro—afinethingwerethatifitwerebutmine！\"heexclaimed。\"Ifyoucovetit，\"saidI，\"whydoyounotpurchaseit？\"\"Welow’Gyptiansneverbuyanimalsofthatdescription；ifwedidwecouldneversellthem，andmostlikelyshouldbehadupashorse—stealers。\"\"Thenwhydidyousayjustnow，’Itwereafinethingifitwerebutyours？’\"saidI。\"We’Gyptiansalwayssaysowhenweseeanythingthatweadmire。Ananimallikethatisnotintendedforalittleharelikeme，butforsomegrandgentlemanlikeyourself。Isay，brother，doyoubuythathorse！\"\"HowshouldIbuythehorse，youfoolishperson？\"saidI。\"Buythehorse，brother，\"saidMr。
Petulengro，\"ifyouhavenotthemoneyIcanlendityou，thoughIbeoflowerEgypt。\"\"Youtalknonsense，\"saidI；
\"however，Iwishyouwouldaskthemanthepriceofit。\"
Mr。Petulengro，goinguptothejockey，inquiredthepriceofthehorse—theman，lookingathimscornfully，madenoreply。\"Youngman，\"saidI，goinguptothejockey，\"domethefavourtotellmethepriceofthathorse，asIsupposeitistosell。\"Thejockey，whowasasurly—lookingman，ofaboutfifty，lookedatmeforamoment，then，aftersomehesitation，said，laconically，\"Seventy。\"\"Thankyou，\"saidI，andturnedaway。\"Buythathorse，\"saidMr。Petulengro，comingafterme；\"thedooktellsmethatinlessthanthreemonthshewillbesoldfortwiceseventy。\"\"Iwillhavenothingtodowithhim，\"saidI；\"besides，Jasper，Idon’tlikehistail。Didyouobservewhatameanscrubbytailhehas？\"\"Whatafoolyouare，brother，\"saidMr。Petulengro；
\"thatverytailofhisshowshisbreeding。Nogoodbredhorseeveryetcarriedafinetail—’tisyourscrubby—tailedhorsesthatareyourout—and—outers。DidyoueverhearofSyntax，brother？ThattailofhisputsmeinmindofSyntax。
Well，Isaynothingmore，haveyourownway—allIwonderatis，thatahorselikehimwaseverbroughttosuchafairofdogcattleasthis。\"
Wethenmadethebestofourwaytoapublic—house，wherewehadsomerefreshment。Ithenproposedreturningtotheencampment，butMr。Petulengrodeclined，andremaineddrinkingwithhiscompanionstillaboutsixo’clockintheevening，whenvariousjockeysfromthefaircamein。Aftersomeconversationajockeyproposedagameofcards；andinalittletime，Mr。Petulengroandanothergypsysatdowntoplayagameofcardswithtwoofthejockeys。
Thoughnotmuchacquaintedwithcards，IsoonconceivedasuspicionthatthejockeyswerecheatingMr。Petulengroandhiscompanion，IthereforecalledMr。Petulengroaside，andgavehimahinttothateffect。Mr。Petulengro，however，insteadofthankingme，toldmetomindmyownbreadandbutter，andforthwithreturnedtohisgame。Icontinuedwatchingtheplayersforsomehours。Thegypsieslostconsiderably，andIsawclearlythatthejockeyswerecheatingthemmostconfoundedly。IthereforeoncemorecalledMr。Petulengroaside，andtoldhimthatthejockeyswerecheatinghim，conjuringhimtoreturntotheencampment。
Mr。Petulengro，whowasbythistimesomewhattheworseforliquor，nowfellintoapassion，sworeseveraloaths，andaskingmewhohadmademeaMosesoverhimandhisbrethren，toldmetoreturntotheencampmentbymyself。Incensedattheunworthyreturnwhichmywell—meantwordshadreceived，I
forthwithleftthehouse，andhavingpurchasedafewarticlesofprovision，Isetoutforthedinglealone。ItwasadarknightwhenIreachedit，anddescendingIsawtheglimmerofafirefromthedepthsofthedingle；myheartbeatwithfondanticipationofawelcome。\"IsopelBernersiswaitingforme，\"saidI，\"andthefirstwordsthatIshallhearfromherlipsisthatshehasmadeuphermind。WeshallgotoAmerica，andbesohappytogether。\"Onreachingthebottomofthedingle，however，Isawseatednearthefire，besidewhichstoodthekettlesimmering，notIsopelBerners，butagypsygirl，whotoldmethatMissBernerswhenshewentawayhadchargedhertokeepupthefire，andhavethekettleboilingagainstmyarrival。Startledatthesewords，I
inquiredatwhathourIsopelhadleft，andwhithershewasgone，andwastoldthatshehadleftthedingle，withhercart，abouttwohoursafterIdeparted；butwhereshewasgoneshe，thegirl，didnotknow。Ithenaskedwhethershehadleftnomessage，andthegirlrepliedthatshehadleftnone，buthadmerelygivendirectionsaboutthekettleandfire，putting，atthesametime，six—penceintoherhand。
\"Verystrange，\"thoughtI；thendismissingthegypsygirlI
satdownbythefire。Ihadnowishfortea，butsatlookingontheembers，wonderingwhatcouldbethemotiveofthesuddendepartureofIsopel。\"Doesshemeantoreturn？\"
thoughtItomyself。\"Surelyshemeanstoreturn，\"Hopereplied，\"orshewouldnothavegoneawaywithoutleavinganymessage\"—\"andyetshecouldscarcelymeantoreturn，\"
mutteredForeboding，\"orsheassuredlywouldhaveleftsomemessagewiththegirl。\"Ithenthoughttomyselfwhatahardthingitwouldbe，if，afterhavingmadeupmymindtoassumetheyokeofmatrimony，Ishouldbedisappointedofthewomanofmychoice。\"Well，afterall，\"thoughtI，\"Icanscarcelybedisappointed；ifsuchanuglyscoundrelasSylvesterhadnodifficultyingettingsuchanicewifeasUrsula，surelyI，whoamnotatenthpartsougly，cannotfailtoobtainthehandofIsopelBerners，uncommonlyfinedamselthoughshebe。
Husbandsdonotgrowuponhedgerows；sheismerelygoneafteralittlebusinessandwillreturnto—morrow。\"
Comfortedinsomedegreebythesehopefulimaginings，I
retiredtomytent，andwenttosleep。
CHAPTERXVI
GloomyForebodings—ThePostman’sMother—TheLetter—
BearsandBarons—TheBestofAdvice。
NOTHINGoccurredtomeofanyparticularmomentduringthefollowingday。IsopelBernersdidnotreturn；butMr。
Petulengroandhiscompanionscamehomefromthefairearlyinthemorning。WhenIsawhim，whichwasaboutmidday，I
foundhimwithhisfacebruisedandswelled。Itappearedthat，sometimeafterIhadlefthim，hehimselfperceivedthatthejockeyswithwhomhewasplayingcardswerecheatinghimandhiscompanion；aquarrelensued，whichterminatedinafightbetweenMr。Petulengroandoneofthejockeys，whichlastedsometime，andinwhichMr。Petulengro，thoughheeventuallycameoffvictor，wasconsiderablybeaten。Hisbruises，inconjunctionwithhispecuniaryloss，whichamountedtoaboutsevenpounds，werethecauseofhisbeingmuchoutofhumour；beforenight，however，hehadreturnedtohisusualphilosophicframeofmind，and，cominguptomeasIwaswalkingabout，apologizedforhisbehaviourontheprecedingday，andassuredmethathewasdetermined，fromthattimeforward，nevertoquarrelwithafriendforgivinghimgoodadvice。
Twomoredayspassed，andstillIsopelBernersdidnotreturn。Gloomythoughtsandforebodingsfilledmymind。
DuringthedayIwanderedabouttheneighbouringroadsinthehopesofcatchinganearlyglimpseofherandherreturningvehicle；andatnightlayawake，tossingaboutonmyhardcouch，listeningtotherustleofeveryleaf，andoccasionallythinkingthatIheardthesoundofherwheelsuponthedistantroad。Onceatmidnight，justasIwasabouttofallintounconsciousness，Isuddenlystartedup，forI
wasconvincedthatIheardthesoundofwheels。Ilistenedmostanxiously，andthesoundofwheelsstrikingagainststoneswascertainlyplainenough。\"Shecomesatlast，\"