tall girl, looking
more menacingly than before, and clenching her fist; 'you had better be
civil, I am none of your chies; and though I keep company with gypsies,
or, to speak more proper, half-and-halfs, I would have you to know that I
come of Christian blood and parents, and was born in the great house of
Long Melford.'

'I have no doubt,' said I, 'that it was a great house; judging from your
size I shouldn't wonder if you were born in a church.'

'Stay, Belle,' said the man, putting himself before the young virago, who
was about to rush upon me, 'my turn is first'--then, advancing to me in a
menacing attitude, he said, with a look of deep malignity, '"Afraid," was
the word, wasn't it?'

'It was,' said I, 'but I think I wronged you; I should have said, aghast;
you exhibited every symptom of one labouring under uncontrollable fear.'

The fellow stared at me with a look of stupid ferocity, and appeared to
be hesitating whether to strike or not: ere he could make up his mind,
the tall girl started forward, crying, 'He's chaffing; let me at him';
and before I could put myself on my guard, she struck me a blow on the
face which had nearly brought me to the ground.

{picture:The fellow stared at me with a look of stupid ferocity, and
appeared to be hesitating whether to strike or not: page480.jpg}

'Enough,' said I, putting my hand to my cheek; 'you have now performed
your promise, and made me wipe my face: now be pacified, and tell me
fairly the grounds of this quarrel.'

'Grounds!' said the fellow; 'didn't you say I was afraid; and if you
hadn't, who gave you leave to camp on my ground?'

'Is it your ground?' said I.

'A pretty question,' said the fellow; 'as if all the world didn't know
that. Do you know who I am?'

'I guess I do,' said I; 'unless I am much mistaken, you are he whom folks
call the "Flaming Tinman." To tell you the truth, I'm glad we have met,
for I wished to see you. These are your two wives, I suppose; I greet
them. There's no harm done--there's room enough here for all of us--we
shall soon be good friends, I daresay; and when we are a little better
acquainted, I'll tell you my history.'

'Well, if that doesn't beat all!' said the fellow.

'I don't think he's chaffing now,' said the girl, whose anger seemed to
have subsided on a sudden; 'the young man speaks civil enough.'

'Civil!' said the fellow, with an oath; 'but that's just like you; with
you it is a blow, and all over. Civil!