her; what will you have for that
kekaubi?'

'What's the use of talking to me in that un-Christian way; what do you
mean, young gentlewoman?'

'Lord, brother, what a fool you are; every tinker knows what a kekaubi
is. I was asking you what you would have for that kettle.'

'Three-and-sixpence, young gentlewoman; isn't it well mended?'

'Well mended! I could have done it better myself; three-and-sixpence!
it's only fit to be played at football with.'

'I will take no less for it, young gentlewoman; it has caused me a world
of trouble.'

'I never saw a worse mended kettle. I say, brother, your hair is white.'

''Tis nature; your hair is black; nature, nothing but nature.'

'I am young, brother; my hair is black--that's nature: you are young,
brother; your hair is white--that's not nature.'

'I can't help it if it be not, but it is nature after all; did you never
see grey hair on the young?'

'Never! I have heard it is true of a grey lad, and a bad one he was.
Oh, so bad.'

'Sit down on the grass, and tell me all about it, sister; do, to oblige
me, pretty sister.'

'Hey, brother, you don't speak as you did--you don't speak like a gorgio,
you speak like one of us, you call me sister.'

'As you call me brother; I am not an uncivil person after all, sister.'

'I say, brother, tell me one thing, and look me in the face--there--do
you speak Rommany?'

'Rommany! Rommany! what is Rommany?'

'What is Rommany? our language to be sure; tell me, brother, only one
thing, you don't speak Rommany?'

'You say it.'

'I don't say it, I wish to know. Do you speak Rommany?'

'Do you mean thieves' slang--cant? no, I don't speak cant, I don't like
it, I only know a few words; they call a sixpence a tanner, don't they?'

'I don't know,' said the girl, sitting down on the ground, 'I was almost
thinking--well, never mind, you don't know Rommany. I say, brother, I
think I should like to have the kekaubi.'

'I thought you said it was badly mended?'

'Yes, yes, brother, but--'

'I thought you said it was only fit to be played at football with?'

'Yes, yes, brother, but--'

'What will you give for it?'

'Brother, I am the poor person's child, I will give you sixpence for the
kekaubi.'

'Poor person's child; how came you by that necklace?'

'Be civil, brother; am I to have the kekaubi?'

'Not for sixpence; isn't the kettle nicely mended?'

'I never saw a nicer mended kettle, brother; am I to have the kekaub