of different declensions, I rose from the side of the pit, and wandered about amongst the various groups of people scattered over the green. Presently I came to where the man of the thimbles was standing, with the table before him, and many people about him. "Them who finds, wins, and them who can't find, loses," he cried. Various individuals tried to find the pellet, but all were unsuccessful, till at last considerable dissatisfaction was expressed, and the terms rogue and cheat were lavished upon him. "Never cheated anybody in all my life," he cried; and, observing me at hand, "didn't I play fair, my lord?" he inquired. But I made no answer. Presently some more played, and he permitted one or two to win, and the eagerness to play with him became greater. After I had looked on for some time, I was moving away: just then I perceived a short, thick personage, with a staff in his hand, advancing in a great hurry; whereupon, with a sudden impulse, I exclaimed "Shoon thimble-engro; The man, who was in the midst of his pea and thimble process, no sooner heard the last word of the distich, than he turned an alarmed look in the direction of where I stood; then, glancing around, and perceiving the constable, he slipped forthwith his pellet and thimbles into his pocket, and, lifting up his table, he cried to the people about him, "Make way!" and with a motion with his head to me, as if to follow him, he darted off with a swiftness which the short, pursy constable could by no means rival; and whither he went, or what became of him, I know not, inasmuch as I turned away in another direction. CHAPTER XXVI. MR. PETULENGRO.-ROMMANY RYE. LIL WRITERS.-ONE'S OWN HORN.-LAWFULLY EARNT MONEY.-THE WOODED HILL.-A GREAT FAVOURITE.-THE SHOP WINDOW.-MUCH WANTED. AND, as I wandered along the green, I drew near to a place where several men, with a cask beside them, sat carousing in the neighbourhood of a small tent. "Here he comes," said one of them, as I advanced, and standing up he raised his voice and sang: "Here the Gypsy gemman see, With his Roman jib and his rome and dree— Rome and dree, rum and dry Rally round the Rommany Rye." It was Mr. Petulengro, who was here diverting himself with several of his comrades; they all received me with considerable frankness. "Sit down, brother," said Mr. Petulengro, " and take a cup of good ale." I sat down. "Your health, gentlemen," said I, as I took the cup which Mr. Petulengro handed to me. "Aukko tu pios adrey Rommanis. Here is your health in Rommany, brother," said Mr. Petulengro; who, having refilled the cup, now emptied it at a draught. "Your health in Rommany, brother," said Tawno Chikno, to whom the cup came next. "The Rommany Rye," said a third. "The Gypsy gentleman," exclaimed a fourth, drinking. And then they all sang in chorus. "Here the Gypsy gemman see, With his Roman jib and his rome and dree- Rally round the Rommany Rye." 66 "And now, brother," said Mr. Petulengro, see ing that you have drunk and been drunken, you will perhaps tell us where you have been, and what about?" "I have been in the Big City," said I, "writing lils." "How much money have you got in your pocket, brother?" said Mr. Petulengro. "Eighteen pence," said I; "all I have in the world." "I have been in the Big City, too,” said Mr. Petulengro; "but I have not written lils-I have fought in the ring-I have fifty pounds in my pocket-I have much more in the world. Brother, there is considerable difference between us." "I would rather be the lil-writer, after all," said the tall, handsome, black man; "indeed, I would wish for nothing better." "Why so?" said Mr. Petulengro. "Because they have so much to say for them 66 selves," said the black man, even when dead and gone. When they are laid in the churchyard, it is their own fault if people a'n't talking of them. Who will know, after I am dead, or bitchadey pawdel, that I was once the beauty of the world, or that you Jasper were 99 "The best man in England of my inches. That's true, Tawno-however, here's our brother will perhaps let the world know something about us." |