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have you mixed much with them？'
'I have mixed with all classes；' said the man in black； 'and with
the lower not less than the upper and middle； they are much as I
have described them； and of the three； the lower are the worst。 I
never knew one of them that possessed the slightest principle； no；
not …。 It is true； there was one fellow whom I once met； who … ；
but it is a long story； and the affair happened abroad。 … I ought
to know something of the English people；' he continued； after a
moment's pause； 'I have been many years amongst them； labouring in
the cause of the Church。'
'Your See must have had great confidence in your powers when it
selected you to labour for it in these parts；' said I。
'They chose me；' said the man in black； 'principally because； being
of British extraction and education； I could speak the English
language and bear a glass of something strong。 It is the opinion
of my See that it would hardly do to send a missionary into a
country like this who is not well versed in English … a country
where； they think； so far from understanding any language besides
his own； scarcely one individual in ten speaks his own
intelligibly； or an ascetic person where； as they say； high and
low； male and female； are； at some period of their lives； fond of a
renovating glass； as it is styled … in other words； of tippling。'
'Your See appears to entertain a very strange opinion of the
English；' said I。
'Not altogether an unjust one；' said the man in black； lifting the
glass to his mouth。
'Well；' said I； 'it is certainly very kind on its part to wish to
bring back such a set of beings beneath its wing。'
'Why； as to the kindness of my See；' said the man in black； 'I have
not much to say； my See has generally in what it does a tolerably
good motive； these heretics possess in plenty what my See has a
great hankering for； and can turn to a good account … money！'
'The Founder of the Christian religion cared nothing for money；'
said I。
'What have we to do with what the Founder of the Christian religion
cared for？' said the man in black。 'How could our temples be built
and our priests supported without money？ But you are unwise to
reproach us with a desire of obtaining money； you forget that your
own Church； if the Church of England be your own Church； as I
suppose it is from the willingness which you displayed in the
public…house to fight for it； is equally avaricious； look at your
greedy Bishops and your corpulent Rectors … do they imitate Christ
in His disregard for money？ You might as well tell me that they
imitate Christ in His meekness and humility。'
'Well；' said I； 'whatever their faults may be； you can't say that
they go to Rome for money。'
The man in black made no direct answer； but appeared by the motion
of his lips to be repeating something to himself。
'I see your glass is again empty；' said I； 'perhaps you will
replenish it。'
The man in black arose from his seat； adjusted his habiliments；
which were rather in disorder； and placed upon his head his hat；
which he had laid aside； then； looking at me； who was still lying
on the ground； he said … 'I might； perhaps； take another glass；
though I believe I have had quite as much as I can well bear； but I
do not wish to hear you utter anything more this evening； after
that last observation of yours … it is quite original； I will
meditate upon it on my pillow this night； after having said an ave
and a pater … go to Rome for money！' He then made Belle a low bow；
slightly motioned to me with his hand as if bidding farewell； and
then left the dingle with rather uneven steps。
'Go to Rome for money；' I heard him say as he ascended the winding
path； 'he！ he！ he！ Go to Rome for money； ho！ ho！ ho！'
CHAPTER XCV
Wooded retreat … Fresh shoes … Wood fire … Ash； when green … Queen
of China … Cleverest people … Declensions … Armenian … Thunder …
Deep olive … What do you mean？ … Koul Adonai … The thick bushes …
Wood pigeon … Old Gothe。
NEARLY three days elapsed without anything of particular moment
occurring。 Belle drove the little cart containing her merchandise
about the neighbourhood； returning to the dingle towards the
evening。 As for myself； I kept within my wooded retreat； working
during the periods of her absence leisurely at my forge。 Having
observed that the quadruped which my companion drove was as much in
need of shoes as my own had been some time previously； I had
determined to provide it with a set； and during the aforesaid
periods occupied myself in preparing them。 As I was employed three
mornings and afternoons about them； I am sure that the reader will
agree that I worked leisurely； or rather； lazily。 On the third day
Belle arrived somewhat later than usual； I was lying on my back at
the bottom of the dingle； employed in tossing up the shoes which I
had produced； and catching them as they fell … some being always in
the air mounting or descending； somewhat after the fashion of the
waters of a fountain。
'Why have you been absent so long？' said I to Belle； 'it must be
long past four by the day。'
'I have been almost killed by the heat；' said Belle； 'I was never
out in a more sultry day … the poor donkey； too； could scarcely
move along。'
'He shall have fresh shoes；' said I； continuing my exercise； 'here
they are quite ready； to…morrow I will tack them on。'
'And why are you playing with them in that manner？' said Belle。
'Partly in triumph at having made them； and partly to show that I
can do something besides making them； it is not every one who；
after having made a set of horse…shoes； can keep them going up and
down in the air； without letting one fall … '
'One has now fallen on your chin；' said Belle。
'And another on my cheek；' said I； getting up； 'it is time to
discontinue the game； for the last shoe drew blood。'
Belle went to her own little encampment； and as for myself； after
having flung the donkey's shoes into my tent； I put some fresh wood
on the fire； which was nearly out； and hung the kettle over it。 I
then issued forth from the dingle； and strolled round the wood that
surrounded it； for a long time I was busied in meditation； looking
at the ground； striking with my foot； half unconsciously； the tufts
of grass and thistles that I met in my way。 After some time； I
lifted up my eyes to the sky； at first vacantly； and then with more
attention； turning my head in all directions for a minute or two；
after which I returned to the dingle。 Isopel was seated near the
fire； over which the kettle was now hung； she had changed her dress
… no signs of the dust and fatigue of her late excursion remained；
she had just added to the fire a small billet of wood； two or three
of which I had left beside it； the fire cracked； and a sweet odour
filled the dingle。
'I am fond of sitting by a wood fire；' said Belle； 'when abroad；
whether it be hot or cold； I love to see the flames dart out of the
wood； but what kind is this； and where did you get it？'
'It is ash；' said I； 'green ash。 Somewhat less than a week ago；
whilst I was wandering along the road by the side of a wood； I came
to a place where some peasants were engaged in cutting up and
clearing away a confused mass of fallen timber： a mighty aged oak
had given way the night before； and in its fall had shivered some
smaller trees； the upper part of the oak； and the fragments of the
rest； lay across the road。 I purchased； for a trifle； a bundle or
two； and the wood on the fire is part of it … ash； green ash。'
'That makes good the old rhyme；' said Belle； 'which I have heard
sung by the old women in the great house：…
'Ash； when green；
Is fire for a queen。'
'And on fairer form of queen ash fire never shone；' said I； 'than
on thine； O beauteous queen of the dingle。'
'I am half disposed to be angry with you； young man；' said Belle。
'And why not entirely？' said I。
Belle made no reply。
'Shall I tell you？' I demanded。 'You had no objection to the first
part of the speech； but you did not like being called queen of the
dingle。 Well； if I had the power； I would make you queen of
something better than the dingle … Queen of China。 Come； let us
have tea。'
'Something less would content me；' said Belle； sighing； as she rose
to prepare our evening meal。
So we took tea together； Belle and I。 'How delicious tea is after
a hot summer's day and a long walk；' said she。
'I daresay it is most refreshing then；' said I； 'but I have heard
people say that they most enjoy it on a cold winter's night； when
the kettle is hissing on the fire； and their children playing on
the hearth。'
Belle sighed。 'Where does tea come from？' she presently demanded。