ildren, sister, it is no fault of mine, it is--but why do I call you
sister," said she, angrily, "you are no sister of mine, you are a grasni,
a regular mare--a pretty sister, indeed, ashamed of your own language. I
remember well that by your high-flying notions you drove your own mother
. . ."

"We will drop it," said Mrs. Petulengro; "I do not wish to raise my
voice, and to make myself ridiculous. Young gentleman," said she, "pray
present my compliments to Miss Isopel Berners, and inform her that I am
very sorry that I cannot accept her polite invitation. I am just
arrived, and have some slight domestic matters to see to, amongst others,
to wash my children's faces; but that in the course of the forenoon when
I have attended to what I have to do, and have dressed myself, I hope to
do myself the honour of paying her a regular visit; you will tell her
that with my compliments. With respect to my husband he can answer for
himself, as I, not being of a jealous disposition, never interferes with
his matters."

"And tell Miss Berners," said Mr. Petulengro, "that I shall be happy to
wait upon her in company with my wife as soon as we are regularly
settled: at present I have much on my hands, having not only to pitch my
own tent, but this here jealous woman's, whose husband is absent on my
business."

Thereupon I returned to the dingle, and without saying anything about
Mrs. Chikno's observations, communicated to Isopel the messages of Mr.
and Mrs. Petulengro; Isopel made no other reply than by replacing in her
coffer two additional cups and saucers, which, in expectation of company,
she had placed upon the board. The kettle was by this time boiling. We
sat down, and as we breakfasted, I gave Isopel Berners another lesson in
the Armenian language.

CHAPTER VI.

THE PROMISED VISIT--ROMAN FASHION--WIZARD AND WITCH--CATCHING AT
WORDS--THE TWO FEMALES--DRESSING OF HAIR--THE NEW ROADS--BELLE'S ALTERED
APPEARANCE--HERSELF AGAIN.

About mid-day Mr. and Mrs. Petulengro came to the dingle to pay the
promised visit. Belle, at the time of their arrival, was in her tent,
but I was at the fireplace, engaged in hammering part of the outer-tire,
or defence, which had come off from one of the wheels of my vehicle. On
perceiving them I forthwith went to receive them. Mr. Petulengro was
dressed in Roman fashion, with a somewhat smartly-cut sporting-coat, the
buttons of which were half-crowns--and a waistcoat, scarlet an