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like； for I bear no malice。 I'm sorry for what has happened； but
you have only yourselves to thank for it。 Now； shall I go with
you； only tell me？' The man made no manner of reply； but flogged
his horse。 The woman； however； whose passions were probably under
less control； replied； with a screeching tone； 'Stay where you are；
you jade； and may the curse of Judas cling to you； … stay with the
bit of a mullo whom you helped； and my only hope is that he may
gulley you before he comes to be 。 。 。 。 Have you with us； indeed！
after what's past！ no； nor nothing belonging to you。 Fetch down
your mailia go…cart and live here with your chabo。' She then
whipped on the horse； and ascended the pass； followed by the man。
The carts were light； and they were not long in ascending the
winding path。 I followed to see that they took their departure。
Arriving at the top； I found near the entrance a small donkey…cart；
which I concluded belonged to the girl。 The tinker and his mort
were already at some distance； I stood looking after them for a
little time； then taking the donkey by the reins I led it with the
cart to the bottom of the dingle。 Arrived there； I found Belle
seated on the stone by the fireplace。 Her hair was all
dishevelled； and she was in tears。
'They were bad people；' said she； 'and I did not like them； but
they were my only acquaintance in the wide world。'
CHAPTER LXXXVI
At tea … Vapours … Isopel Berners … Softly and kindly … Sweet
pretty creature … Bread and water … Two sailors … Truth and
constancy … Very strangely。
IN the evening of that same day the tall girl and I sat at tea by
the fire； at the bottom of the dingle； the girl on a small stool；
and myself； as usual； upon my stone。
The water which served for the tea had been taken from a spring of
pellucid water in the neighbourhood； which I had not had the good
fortune to discover； though it was well known to my companion； and
to the wandering people who frequented the dingle。
'This tea is very good；' said I； 'but I cannot enjoy it as much as
if I were well： I feel very sadly。'
'How else should you feel；' said the girl； 'after fighting with the
Flaming Tinman？ All I wonder at is that you can feel at all！ As
for the tea； it ought to be good； seeing that it cost me ten
shillings a pound。'
'That's a great deal for a person in your station to pay。'
'In my station！ I'd have you to know； young man … however； I
haven't the heart to quarrel with you； you look so ill； and after
all； it is a good sum for one to pay who travels the roads； but if
I must have tea； I like to have the best； and tea I must have； for
I am used to it； though I can't help thinking that it sometimes
fills my head with strange fancies … what some folks call vapours；
making me weep and cry。'
'Dear me；' said I； 'I should never have thought that one of your
size and fierceness would weep and cry！'
'My size and fierceness！ I tell you what； young man； you are not
over civil this evening； but you are ill； as I said before； and I
shan't take much notice of your language； at least for the present；
as for my size； I am not so much bigger than yourself； and as for
being fierce； you should be the last one to fling that at me。 It
is well for you that I can be fierce sometimes。 If I hadn't taken
your part against Blazing Bosville； you wouldn't be now taking tea
with me。'
'It is true that you struck me in the face first； but we'll let
that pass。 So that man's name is Bosville； what's your own？'
'Isopel Berners。'
'How did you get that name？'
'I say； young man； you seem fond of asking questions： will you
have another cup of tea？'
'I was just going to ask for another。'
'Well； then； here it is； and much good may it do you； as for my
name； I got it from my mother。'
'Your mother's name； then； was Isopel！'
'Isopel Berners。'
'But had you never a father？'
'Yes； I had a father；' said the girl； sighing； 'but I don't bear
his name。'
'Is it the fashion； then； in your country for children to bear
their mother's name？'
'If you ask such questions； young man； I shall be angry with you。
I have told you my name； and； whether my father's or mother's； I am
not ashamed of it。'
'It is a noble name。'
'There you are right； young man。 The chaplain in the great house
where I was born told me it was a noble name； it was odd enough； he
said； that the only three noble names in the county were to be
found in the great house； mine was one； the other two were Devereux
and Bohun。'
'What do you mean by the great house？'
'The workhouse。'
'Is it possible that you were born there？'
'Yes； young man； and as you now speak softly and kindly； I will
tell you my whole tale。 My father was an officer of the sea； and
was killed at sea as he was coming home to marry my mother； Isopel
Berners。 He had been acquainted with her； and had left her； but
after a few months he wrote her a letter； to say that he had no
rest； and that he repented； and that as soon as his ship came to
port he would do her all the reparation in his power。 Well； young
man； the very day before they reached port they met the enemy； and
there was a fight； and my father was killed； after he had struck
down six of the enemy's crew on their own deck； for my father was a
big man； as I have heard； and knew tolerably well how to use his
hands； And when my mother heard the news； she became half
distracted； and ran away into the fields and forests； totally
neglecting her business； for she was a small milliner； and so she
ran demented about the meads and forests for a long time； now
sitting under a tree； and now by the side of a river … at last she
flung herself into some water； and would have been drowned； had not
some one been at hand and rescued her； whereupon she was conveyed
to the great house； lest she should attempt to do herself farther
mischief； for she had neither friends nor parents … and there she
died three months after； having first brought me into the world。
She was a sweet pretty creature； I'm told； but hardly fit for this
world； being neither large； nor fierce； nor able to take her own
part。 So I was born and bred in the great house； where I learnt to
read and sew； to fear God； and to take my own part。 When I was
fourteen I was put out to service to a small farmer and his wife；
with whom； however； I did not stay long； for I was half…starved；
and otherwise ill treated； especially by my mistress； who one day
attempting to knock me down with a besom； I knocked her down with
my fist； and went back to the great house。'
'And how did they receive you in the great house？'
'Not very kindly； young man … on the contrary； I was put into a
dark room； where I was kept a fortnight on bread and water； I did
not much care； however； being glad to have got back to the great
house at any rate … the place where I was born； and where my poor
mother died； and in the great house I continued two years longer；
reading and sewing； fearing God； and taking my own part when
necessary。 At the end of the two years I was again put out to
service； but this time to a rich farmer and his wife； with whom；
however； I did not live long； less time； I believe； than with the
poor ones； being obliged to leave for … '
'Knocking your mistress down？'
'No； young man； knocking my master down； who conducted himself
improperly towards me。 This time I did not go back to the great
house； having a misgiving that they would not receive me； so I
turned my back to the great house where I was born； and where my
poor mother died； and wandered for several days I know not whither；
supporting myself on a few halfpence which I chanced to have in my
pocket。 It happened one day； as I sat under a hedge crying； having
spent my last farthing； that a comfortable…looking elderly woman
came up in a cart； and seeing the state in which I was； she stopped
and asked what was the matter with me； I told her some part of my
story； whereupon she said； 'Cheer up； my dear； if you like； you
shall go with me； and wait upon me。' Of course I wanted little
persuasion； so I got into the cart and went with her。 She took me
to London and various other places； and I soon found that she was a
travelling woman； who went about the country with silks and linen。
I was of great use to her； more especially in those places where we
met evil company。 Once； as we were coming from Dover； we were met
by two sailors； who stopped our cart； and would have robbed and
stripped us。 'Let me get down；' said I； so I got down； and fought
with them both； till they turned round and ran away。 Two years I
lived with the old gentlewoman； who was very kind to me； almost as
kind as a mother； at last