r." "You mean
the face of the young rye," said Mrs. Petulengro; "never mind him, madam;
the young rye, though he knows a thing or two, is not a university, nor a
person of universal wisdom. I assure you that you never looked so well
before; and I hope that, from this moment, you will wear your hair in
this way." "And who is to braid it in this way?" said Belle, smiling.
"I, madam," said Mrs. Petulengro, "I will braid it for you every morning,
if you will but be persuaded to join us. Do so, madam, and I think, if
you did, the young rye would do so too." "The young rye is nothing to
me, nor I to him," said Belle; "we have stayed some time together; but
our paths will soon be apart. Now, farewell, for I am about to take a
journey." "And you will go out with your hair as I have braided it,"
said Mrs. Petulengro; "if you do, everybody will be in love with you."
"No," said Belle, "hitherto I have allowed you to do what you please, but
henceforth I shall have my own way. Come, come," said she, observing
that the gypsy was about to speak, "we have had enough of nonsense;
whenever I leave this hollow, it will be wearing my hair in my own
fashion." "Come, wife," said Mr. Petulengro, "we will no longer intrude
upon the rye and rawnie, there is such a thing as being troublesome."
Thereupon Mr. Petulengro and his wife took their leave, with many
salutations. "Then you are going?" said I, when Belle and I were left
alone. "Yes," said Belle, "I am going on a journey; my affairs compel
me." "But you will return again?" said I. "Yes," said Belle, "I shall
return once more." "Once more," said I; "what do you mean by once more?
The Petulengros will soon be gone, and will you abandon me in this
place?" "You were alone here," said Belle, "before I came, and, I
suppose, found it agreeable, or you would not have stayed in it." "Yes,"
said I, "that was before I knew you; but having lived with you here, I
should be very loth to live here without you." "Indeed," said Belle, "I
did not know that I was of so much consequence to you. Well, the day is
wearing away--I must go and harness Traveller to the cart." "I will do
that," said I, "or anything else you may wish me. Go and prepare
yourself; I will see after Traveller and the cart." Belle departed to
her tent, and I set about performing the task I had undertaken. In about
half-an-hour Belle again made her appearance--she was dressed neatly and
plainly. Her hair was no longer