hteen; she was dressed in a tight bodice and
a blue stuff gown; hat, bonnet, or cap she had none, and her hair, which
was flaxen, hung down on her shoulders unconfined; her complexion was
fair, and her features handsome, with a determined but open
expression--she was followed by another female, about forty, stout and
vulgar-looking, at whom I scarcely glanced, my whole attention being
absorbed by the tall girl.

'What's the matter, Jack?' said the latter, looking at the man.

'Only afraid, that's all,' said the man, still proceeding with his work.

'Afraid at what--at that lad? why, he looks like a ghost--I would engage
to thrash him with one hand.'

'You might beat me with no hands at all,' said I, 'fair damsel, only by
looking at me--I never saw such a face and figure, both regal--why, you
look like Ingeborg, Queen of Norway; she had twelve brothers, you know,
and could lick them all, though they were heroes:--

On Dovrefeld in Norway
Were once together seen
The twelve heroic brothers
Of Ingeborg the queen.'

'None of your chaffing, young fellow,' said the tall girl, 'or I will
give you what shall make you wipe your face; be civil, or you will rue
it.'

'Well, perhaps I was a peg too high,' said I; 'I ask your pardon--here's
something a bit lower:--

As I was jawing to the gav yeck divvus
I met on the drom miro Rommany chi--'

'None of your Rommany chies, young fellow,' said the 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 forwa