riends and allies occupied the ground in the vicinity of the mouth of
the dingle. About five yards on the right I perceived Mr. Petulengro
busily employed in erecting his tent; he held in his hand an iron bar,
sharp at the bottom, with a kind of arm projecting from the top for the
purpose of supporting a kettle or cauldron over the fire, and which is
called in the Romanian language, 'Kekauviskoe saster.' {29c} With the
sharp end of this Mr. Petulengro was making holes in the earth at about
twenty inches distance from each other, into which he inserted certain
long rods, with a considerable bend towards the top, which constituted no
less than the timbers of the tent, and the supporters of the canvas.
{30a} Mrs. Petulengro and a female with a crutch in her hand, whom I
recognised as Mrs. Chikno, sat near him on the ground, whilst two or
three children, from six to ten years old, who composed the young family
of Mr. and Mrs. Petulengro were playing about.

'Here we are, brother,' said Mr. Petulengro, as he drove the sharp end of
the bar into the ground; 'here we are, and plenty of us--Bute dosta
Romany chals.' {30b}

'I am glad to see you all,' said I, 'and particularly you, madam,' said
I, making a bow to Mrs. Petulengro; 'and you also, madam,' taking off my
hat to Mrs. Chikno.

'Good-day to you, sir,' said Mrs. Petulengro; 'you look as usual,
charmingly, and speak so, too; you have not forgot your manners.'

'It is not all gold that glitters,' said Mrs. Chikno. 'However,
good-morrow to you, young rye.'

'I do not see Tawno,' said I, looking around; 'where is he?'

'Where, indeed!' said Mrs. Chikno; 'I don't know; he who countenances him
in the roving line can best answer.'

'He will be here anon,' said Mr. Petulengro; 'he has merely ridden down a
by-road to show a farmer a two-year-old colt, she heard me give him
directions, but she can't be satisfied.'

'I can't, indeed,' said Mrs. Chikno.

'And why not, sister?'

'Because I place no confidence in your words, brother; as I said before,
you countenances him.'

'Well,' said I, 'I know nothing of your private concerns; I am come on an
errand. Isopel Berners, down in the dell there, requests the pleasure of
Mr. and Mrs. Petulengro's company at breakfast. She will be happy also
to see you, madam,' said I, addressing Mrs. Chikno.

'Is that young female your wife, young man?' said Mrs. Chikno.

'My wife?' said I.

'Yes, young man, your wife, your lawful,