n the least; I merely propose the thing to prevent our occasionally
feeling uncomfortable together. Let us begin."

"Stop till I have removed the tea-things," said Belle; and, getting up,
she removed them to her own encampment.

"I am ready," said Belle, returning, and taking her former seat, "to join
with you in anything which will serve to pass away the time agreeably,
provided there is no harm in it."

"Belle," said I, "I have determined to commence the course of Armenian
lessons by teaching you the numerals; but, before I do that, it will be
as well to tell you that the Armenian language is called Haik."

"I am sure that word will hang upon my memory," said Belle.

"Why hang upon it?" said I.

"Because the old women in the great house used to call so the
chimney-hook, on which they hung the kettle; in like manner, on the hake
of my memory I will hang your hake."

"Good!" said I, "you will make an apt scholar; but, mind, that I did not
say hake, but haik; the words are, however, very much alike; and, as you
observe, upon your hake you may hang my haik. We will now proceed to the
numerals."

"What are numerals?" said Belle.

"Numbers. I will say the Haikan numbers up to ten. There, have you
heard them?"--"Yes." "Well, try and repeat them."

"I only remember number one," said Belle, "and that because it is me."

"I will repeat them again," said I, "and pay great attention. Now, try
again."

"Me, jergo, earache."

"I neither said jergo, nor earache. I said yergou and yerek. Belle, I
am afraid I shall have some difficulty with you as a scholar."

Belle made no answer. Her eyes were turned in the direction of the
winding path, which led from the bottom of the hollow where we were
seated, to the plain above. "Gorgio shunella," she said, at length, in a
low voice.

"Pure Rommany," said I; "where?" I added, in a whisper.

"Dovey odoi," said Belle, nodding with her head towards the path.

"I will soon see who it is," said I; and starting up, I rushed towards
the pathway, intending to lay violent hands on any one I might find
lurking in its windings. Before, however, I had reached its
commencement, a man, somewhat above the middle height, advanced from it
into the dingle, in whom I recognised the man in black, whom I had seen
in the public-house.

CHAPTER XC.

Buona Sera--Rather Apprehensive--The Steep Bank--Lovely
Virgin--Hospitality--Tory Minister--Custom of the Country--Sneering
S