e of my Irish education. I passed that night
alone in the dingle in a very melancholy manner, with little or no sleep,
thinking of Isopel Berners; and in the morning when I quitted it I shed
several tears, as I reflected that I should probably never again see the
spot where I had passed so many hours in her company.

CHAPTER XX

FAREWELL TO THE ROMANS--THE LANDLORD AND HIS NIECE--SET OUT AS A
TRAVELLER

On reaching the plain above, I found my Romany friends breakfasting, and
on being asked by Mr. Petulengro to join them, I accepted the invitation.
No sooner was breakfast over than I informed Ursula and her husband that
they would find the property, which I had promised them, below in the
dingle, commending the little pony Ambrol to their best care. I took
leave of the whole company, which was itself about to break up camp and
to depart in the direction of London, and made the best of my way to the
public-house. I had a small bundle in my hand, and was dressed in the
same manner as when I departed from London, having left my waggoner's
slop with the other effects in the dingle. On arriving at the
public-house, I informed the landlord that I was come for my horse,
inquiring, at the same time, whether he could not accommodate me with a
bridle and saddle. He told me that the bridle and saddle, with which I
had ridden the horse on the preceding day, were at my service for a
trifle; that he had received them some time since in payment for a debt,
and that he had himself no use for them. The leathers of the bridle were
rather shabby, and the bit rusty, and the saddle was old-fashioned; but I
was happy to purchase them for seven shillings, more especially as the
landlord added a small valise, which he said could be strapped to the
saddle, and which I should find very convenient for carrying my things
in. I then proceeded to the stable, told the horse we were bound on an
expedition, and giving him a feed of corn, left him to discuss it, and
returned to the bar-room to have a little farewell chat with the landlord
and at the same time to drink with him a farewell glass of ale. Whilst
we were talking and drinking, the niece came and joined us: she was a
decent, sensible, young woman, who appeared to take a great interest in
her uncle, whom she regarded with a singular mixture of pride and
disapprobation--pride for the renown which he had acquired by his feats
of old, and disapprobation for his late imprudences.