I to the animal.
'What do you want with my juggal?' said the girl.
'Only to give her a piece of cake,' said I, offering the dog a piece
which I had just broken off.
'What do you mean?' said the girl, snatching the dog away; 'my
grandbebee's cake is not for dogs.'
'Why, I just now saw you give the animal a piece of yours.'
'You lie, brother, you saw no such thing; but I see how it is, you wish
to affront the poor person's child. I shall go to my house.'
'Keep still, and don't be angry; see, I have eaten the piece which I
offered the dog. I meant no offence. It is a sweet cake after all.'
'Isn't it, brother? I am glad you like it. Offence, brother, no offence
at all! I am so glad you like my grandbebee's cake, but she will be
wanting me at home. Eat one piece more of grandbebee's cake, and I will
go.'
'I am not hungry, I will put the rest by.'
'One piece more before I go, handsome brother, gray-haired brother.'
'I will not eat any more, I have already eaten more than I wished to
oblige you; if you must go, good-day to you.'
The girl rose upon her feet, looked hard at me, then at the remainder of
the cake which I held in my hand, and then at me again, and then stood
for a moment or two, as if in deep thought; presently an air of
satisfaction came over her countenance, she smiled and said, 'Well,
brother, well, do as you please, I merely wished you to eat because you
have been so kind to the poor person's child. She loves you so, that she
could have wished to have seen you eat it all; good-bye, brother, I
daresay when I am gone you will eat some more of it, and if you don't, I
daresay you have eaten enough to--to--show your love for us. After all
it was a poor person's cake, a Rommany manricli, and all you gorgios are
somewhat gorgious. Farewell, brother, pretty brother, gray-haired
brother. Come, juggal.'
I remained under the ash tree seated on the grass for a minute or two,
and endeavoured to resume the occupation in which I had been engaged
before I fell asleep, but I felt no inclination for labour. I then
thought I would sleep again, and once more reclined against the tree, and
slumbered for some little time, but my sleep was more agitated than
before. Something appeared to bear heavy on my breast, I struggled in my
sleep, fell on the grass, and awoke; my temples were throbbing, there was
a burning in my eyes, and my mouth felt parched; the oppression about the
chest which I had f
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