ding for some time as if
hesitating what to do; at last he looked at his hand, and, shaking his
head, said something to the woman which I did not understand. The tall
girl, however, appeared to overhear him, and, probably repeating his
words, said, 'No, it won't do; you are right there; and now hear what I
have to say,--let bygones be bygones, and let us all shake hands, and
camp here, as the young man was saying just now.' The man looked at her,
and then, without any reply, went to his horse, which was lying down
among the trees, and kicking it up, led it to the cart, to which he
forthwith began to harness it. The other cart and horse had remained
standing motionless during the whole affair which I have been recounting,
at the bottom of the pass. The woman now took the horse by the head, and
leading it with the cart into the open part of the dingle, turned both
round, and then led them back, till the horse and cart had mounted a
little way up the ascent; she then stood still and appeared to be
expecting the man. During this proceeding Belle had stood looking on
without saying anything; at last, perceiving that the man had harnessed
his horse to the other cart, and that both he and the woman were about to
take their departure, she said, 'You are not going, are you?' Receiving
no answer, she continued: 'I tell you what, both of you, Black John, and
you Moll, his mort, this is not treating me over civilly,--however, I am
ready to put up with it, and to go with you if you like, for I bear no
malice. I'm sorry for what has happened, but you have only yourselves to
thank for it. Now, shall I go with you, only tell me?' The man made no
manner of reply, but flogged his horse. The woman, however, whose
passions were probably under less control, replied, with a screeching
tone, 'Stay where you are, you jade, and may the curse of Judas cling to
you,--stay with the bit of a mullo whom you helped, and my only hope is
that he may gulley you before he comes to be . . . . Have you with us,
indeed! after what's past! no, nor nothing belonging to you. Fetch down
your mailia go-cart and live here with your chabo.' She then whipped on
the horse, and ascended the pass, followed by the man. The carts were
light, and they were not long in ascending the winding path. I followed
to see that they took their departure. Arriving at the top, I found near
the entrance a small donkey-cart, which I concluded belonged to the girl.
The tin