to take up with such a nasty
pepper-faced good-for-nothing--'

'I won't hear my husband abused, brother; so you had better say no more.'

'Why, is he not the Lazarus of the gypsies? Has he a penny of his own,
Ursula?'

'Then the more his want, brother, of a clever chi like me to take care of
him and his childer. I tell you what, brother, I will chore, if
necessary, and tell dukkerin for Sylvester, if even so heavy as scarcely
to be able to stand. You call him lazy; you would not think him lazy if
you were in a ring with him; he is a proper man with his hands. Jasper
is going to back him for twenty pounds against Slammocks of the Chong
gav, the brother of Roarer and Bell-metal. He says he has no doubt that
he will win.'

'Well, if you like him, I, of course, can have no objection. Have you
been long married?'

'About a fortnight, brother; that dinner, the other day, when I sang the
song, was given in celebration of the wedding.'

'Were you married in a church, Ursula?'

'We were not, brother; none but gorgios, cripples, and lubbenys, are ever
married in a church; {81} we took each other's words. Brother, I have
been with you near three hours beneath this hedge. I will go to my
husband.'

'Does he know that you are here?'

'He does, brother.'

'And is he satisfied?'

'Satisfied! of course. Lor', you gorgies! Brother, I go to my husband
and my house.' And, thereupon, Ursula rose and departed.

After waiting a little time I also arose; it was now dark, and I thought
I could do no better than betake myself to the dingle; at the entrance of
it I found Mr. Petulengro. 'Well, brother,' said he, 'what kind of
conversation have you and Ursula had beneath the hedge?'

'If you wished to hear what we were talking about, you should have come
and sat down beside us; you knew where we were.'

'Well, brother, I did much the same, for I went and sat down behind you.'

'Behind the hedge, Jasper?'

'Behind the hedge, brother.'

'And heard all our conversation?'

'Every word, brother; and a rum conversation it was.'

''Tis an old saying, Jasper, that listeners never hear any good of
themselves; perhaps you heard the epithet that Ursula bestowed upon you.'

'If, by epitaph, you mean that she called me a liar, I did, brother, and
she was not much wrong, for I certainly do not always stick exactly to
truth; you, however, have not much to complain of me.'

'You deceived me about Ursula, giving me to unders