rol, 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
mailla 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
tinker and his mort were already at some distance; I stood looking after
them for a little time, then taking the donkey by the reins I led it with
the cart to the bottom of the dingle. Arrived there, I found Belle
seated on the stone by the fireplace. Her hair was all dishevelled, and
she was in tears.

"They were bad people," said she, "and I did not like them, but they were
my only acquaintance in the wide world."

CHAPTER LXXXVI.

In the evening of that same day the tall girl and I sat at tea by the
fire, at the bottom of the dingle; the girl on a small stool, and myself,
as usual, upon my stone.

The water which served for the tea had been taken from a spring of
pellucid water in the neighbourhood, which I had not had the good fortune
to discover, though it was well known to my companion, and to the
wandering people who frequented the dingle.

"This tea is very good," said I, "but I cannot enjoy it as much as if I
were well: I feel very sadly."

"How else should you feel," said the girl, "after fighting with the
Flaming Tinman? All I wonder at is that you can feel at all! As for the
tea, it ought to be good, seeing that it cost me ten shillings a pound."

"That's a great deal for a person in your station to pay."

"In my station! I'd have you to know, young man--however, I haven't the
heart to quarrel with you, you look so ill; and after all, it is a good
sum for one to pay who travels the roads; but if I must have tea, I like
to have the best; and tea I must have, for I am used to it, though I
can't help thinking that it sometimes fills my head with strange
fancies--what some folks call vapours, making me weep and cry."

"Dear me," said I, "I should never have thought that one of your size and
fierceness would weep and cry!