. The Chippeways
call them _hotchewitchi_."

This Rommany word was a plumper for the Gipsy, and the twinkle of his
eye--the smallest star of mirth in the darkest night of gravity I ever
beheld in my life--was lovely. I had trumped his card at any rate with
as solemn gravity as his own; and the Gorgios thought our reminiscences
of America were very entertaining.

"He had more tow upon his distaffe
Than Gervais wot of."

But there was one in the party--and I think only one--who had her own
private share in the play. That one was the pretty young lady. Through
all the conversation, I observed from time to time her eyes fixed on my
face, as if surmising some unaccountable mystery. I understood it at
once. The bread and butter on the table, partly eaten, and the
snow-white napkin indicated to a feminine eye that some one not of the
household had been entertained, and that I was the guest. Perhaps she
had seen the old woman's quick glance at me, but it was evident that she
felt a secret. What she divined I do not know. Should this work ever
fall into her hands, she will learn it all, and with it the fact that
Gipsies can talk double about as well as any human beings on the face of
the earth, and enjoy fun with as grave a face as any Ojib'wa of them all.

The habits of the Gipsy are pleasantly illustrated by the fact that the
collection of "animated books," which no Rommany gentleman's library
should be without, generally includes a jackdaw. When the foot of the
Gorgio is heard near the tent, a loud "_wa-awk_" from the wary bird
(sounding very much like an alarm) at once proclaims the fact; and on
approaching, the stranger finds the entire party in all probability
asleep. Sometimes a dog acts as sentinel, but it comes to the same
thing. It is said you cannot catch a weasel asleep: I am tempted to add
that you can never find a Gipsy awake--but it means precisely the same
thing.

Gipsies are very much attached to their dogs, and in return the dogs are
very much attached to their masters--so much so that there are numerous
instances, perfectly authenticated, of the faithful animals having been
in the habit of ranging the country alone, at great distances from the
tent, and obtaining hares, rabbits, or other game, which they carefully
and secretly brought by night to their owners as a slight testimonial of
their regard and gratitude. As the dogs have no moral appreciation of
the Game Laws, save as manifest