is religion at all hazards, the more especially as he was
convinced he should derive no good by giving it up.

CHAPTER XIV

PREPARATIONS FOR THE FAIR--THE LAST LESSON--THE VERB SIRIEL

It might be about five in the evening when I reached the gypsy
encampment. Here I found Mr. Petulengro, Tawno Chickno, Sylvester, and
others, in a great bustle, clipping and trimming certain ponies and old
horses which they had brought with them. On inquiring of Jasper the
reason of their being so engaged, he informed me that they were getting
the horses ready for a fair, which was to be held on the morrow, at a
place some miles distant, at which they should endeavour to dispose of
them, adding--'Perhaps, brother, you will go with us, provided you have
nothing better to do?' Not having any particular engagement, I assured
him that I should have great pleasure in being of the party. It was
agreed that we should start early on the following morning. Thereupon I
descended into the dingle. Belle was sitting before the fire, at which
the kettle was boiling. 'Were you waiting for me?' I inquired. 'Yes,'
said Belle, 'I thought that you would come, and I waited for you.' 'That
was very kind,' said I. 'Not half so kind,' said she, 'as it was of you
to get everything ready for me in the dead of last night, when there was
scarcely a chance of my coming.' The tea-things were brought forward,
and we sat down. 'Have you been far?' said Belle. 'Merely to that
public-house,' said I, 'to which you directed me on the second day of our
acquaintance.' 'Young men should not make a habit of visiting
public-houses,' said Belle, 'they are bad places.' 'They may be so to
some people,' said I, 'but I do not think the worst public-house in
England could do me any harm.' 'Perhaps you are so bad already,' said
Belle, with a smile, 'that it would be impossible to spoil you.' 'How
dare you catch at my words?' said I; 'come, I will make you pay for doing
so--you shall have this evening the longest lesson in Armenian which I
have yet inflicted upon you.' 'You may well say inflicted,' said Belle,
'but pray spare me. I do not wish to hear anything about Armenian,
especially this evening.' 'Why this evening?' said I. Belle made no
answer. 'I will not spare you,' said I; 'this evening I intend to make
you conjugate an Armenian verb.' 'Well, be it so,' said Belle; 'for this
evening you shall command.' 'To command is hramahyel,' said I. 'Ram h