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in favour of the Rommany chal； the plastramengro would never have
come alive out of the lane； but I did not； for I thought to myself
fair play is a precious stone； so you see； brother … '
'That you are quite right； Mr。 Petulengro； I see that clearly； and
now； pray proceed with your narration； it is both moral and
entertaining。'
But Mr。 Petulengro did not proceed with his narration； neither did
he proceed upon his way； he had stopped his horse； and his eyes
were intently fixed on a broad strip of grass beneath some lofty
trees； on the left side of the road。 It was a pleasant enough
spot； and seemed to invite wayfaring people； such as we were； to
rest from the fatigues of the road； and the heat and vehemence of
the sun。 After examining it for a considerable time； Mr。
Petulengro said； 'I say； brother； that would be a nice place for a
tussle！'
'I daresay it would；' said I； 'if two people were inclined to
fight。'
'The ground is smooth；' said Mr。 Petulengro； 'without holes or
ruts； and the trees cast much shade。 I don't think； brother； that
we could find a better place；' said Mr。 Petulengro； springing from
his horse。
'But you and I don't want to fight！'
'Speak for yourself； brother；' said Mr。 Petulengro。 'However； I
will tell you how the matter stands。 There is a point at present
between us。 There can be no doubt that you are the cause of Mrs。
Herne's death； innocently； you will say； but still the cause。 Now；
I shouldn't like it to be known that I went up and down the country
with a pal who was the cause of my mother…in…law's death； that's to
say； unless he gave me satisfaction。 Now； if I and my pal have a
tussle； he gives me satisfaction； and； if he knocks my eyes out；
which I know you can't do； it makes no difference at all； he gives
me satisfaction； and he who says to the contrary knows nothing of
gypsy law； and is a dinelo into the bargain。'
'But we have no gloves！'
'Gloves！' said Mr。 Petulengro； contemptuously； 'gloves！ I tell you
what； brother； I always thought you were a better hand at the
gloves than the naked fist； and； to tell you the truth； besides
taking satisfaction for Mrs。 Herne's death； I wish to see what you
can do with your mawleys； so now is your time； brother； and this is
your place； grass and shade； no ruts or holes； come on； brother； or
I shall think you what I should not like to call you。'
CHAPTER LXXXII
Offence and defence … I'm satisfied … Fond of solitude … Possession
of property … Chal Devlehi … Winding path。
AND when I heard Mr。 Petulengro talk in this manner； which I had
never heard him do before； and which I can only account for by his
being fasting and ill…tempered； I had of course no other
alternative than to accept his challenge； so I put myself into a
posture which I deemed the best both for offence and defence； and
the tussle commenced； and when it had endured for about half an
hour； Mr。 Petulengro said； 'Brother； there is much blood on your
face； you had better wipe it off'； and when I had wiped it off； and
again resumed my former attitude； Mr。 Petulengro said； 'I think
enough has been done； brother； in the affair of the old woman； I
have； moreover； tried what you are able to do； and find you； as I
thought； less apt with the naked mawleys than the stuffed gloves；
nay； brother； put your hands down； I'm satisfied； blood has been
shed； which is all that can be reasonably expected for an old woman
who carried so much brimstone about her as Mrs。 Herne。'
So the struggle ended； and we resumed our route； Mr。 Petulengro
sitting sideways upon his horse as before； and I driving my little
pony…cart； and when we had proceeded about three miles； we came to
a small public…house； which bore the sign of the Silent Woman；
where we stopped to refresh our cattle and ourselves； and as we sat
over our bread and ale； it came to pass that Mr。 Petulengro asked
me various questions； and amongst others； how I intended to dispose
of myself； I told him that I did not know； whereupon； with
considerable frankness； he invited me to his camp； and told me that
if I chose to settle down amongst them； and become a Rommany chal；
I should have his wife's sister Ursula； who was still unmarried；
and occasionally talked of me。
I declined his offer； assigning as a reason the recent death of
Mrs。 Herne； of which I was the cause； although innocent。 'A pretty
life I should lead with those two；' said I； 'when they came to know
it。' 'Pooh；' said Mr。 Petulengro； 'they will never know it。 I
shan't blab； and as for Leonora； that girl has a head on her
shoulders。' 'Unlike the woman in the sign；' said I； 'whose head is
cut off。 You speak nonsense； Mr。 Petulengro； as long as a woman
has a head on her shoulders she'll talk； … but； leaving women out
of the case； it is impossible to keep anything a secret； an old
master of mine told me so long ago。 I have moreover another reason
for declining your offer。 I am at present not disposed for
society。 I am become fond of solitude。 I wish I could find some
quiet place to which I could retire to hold communion with my own
thoughts； and practise； if I thought fit； either of my trades。'
'What trades？' said Mr。 Petulengro。 'Why； the one which I have
lately been engaged in； or my original one； which I confess I
should like better； that of a kaulo…mescro。' 'Ah； I have
frequently heard you talk of making horse…shoes；' said Mr。
Petulengro； 'I； however； never saw you make one； and no one else
that I am aware； I don't believe … come； brother； don't be angry；
it's quite possible that you may have done things which neither I
nor any one else has seen you do； and that such things may some day
or other come to light； as you say nothing can be kept secret。 Be
that； however； as it may； pay the reckoning and let us be going； I
think I can advise you to just such a kind of place as you seem to
want。'
'And how do you know that I have got wherewithal to pay the
reckoning？' I demanded。 'Brother；' said Mr。 Petulengro； 'I was
just now looking in your face； which exhibited the very look of a
person conscious of the possession of property； there was nothing
hungry or sneaking in it。 Pay the reckoning； brother。'
And when we were once more upon the road； Mr。 Petulengro began to
talk of the place which he conceived would serve me as a retreat
under present circumstances。 'I tell you frankly； brother； that it
is a queer kind of place； and I am not very fond of pitching my
tent in it； it is so surprisingly dreary。 It is a deep dingle in
the midst of a large field； on an estate about which there has been
a lawsuit for some years past。 I daresay you will be quiet enough；
for the nearest town is five miles distant； and there are only a
few huts and hedge public…houses in the neighbourhood。 Brother； I
am fond of solitude myself； but not that kind of solitude； I like a
quiet heath； where I can pitch my house； but I always like to have
a gay stirring place not far off； where the women can pen dukkerin；
and I myself can sell or buy a horse； if needful … such a place as
the Chong Gav。 I never feel so merry as when there； brother； or on
the heath above it； where I taught you Rommany。'
Shortly after this discourse we reached a milestone； and a few
yards from the milestone； on the left hand； was a crossroad。
Thereupon Mr。 Petulengro said； 'Brother； my path lies to the left
if you choose to go with me to my camp； good； if not； Chal
Devlehi。' But I again refused Mr。 Petulengro's invitation； and；
shaking him by the hand； proceeded forward alone； and about ten
miles farther on I reached the town of which he had spoken； and；
following certain directions which he had given； discovered； though
not without some difficulty； the dingle which he had mentioned。 It
was a deep hollow in the midst of a wide field； the shelving sides
were overgrown with trees and bushes； a belt of sallows surrounded
it on the top； a steep winding path led down into the depths；
practicable； however； for a light cart； like mine； at the bottom
was an open space； and there I pitched my tent； and there I
contrived to put up my forge。 'I will here ply the trade of
kaulomescro；' said I。
CHAPTER LXXXIII
Highly poetical … Volundr … Grecian mythology … Making a petul …
Tongues of flame … Hammering … Spite of dukkerin … Heaviness。
IT has always struck me that there is something highly poetical
about a forge。 I am not singular in this opinion： various
individuals have assured me that they can never pass by one； even
in the midst of a crowded town； without experiencing sensations
which they can scarcely define； but which are highly pleasurable。
I have a decided penchant for forges； especially rural ones； placed
in some quain