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Late that evening as I sat on the shaft of my cart in deep
meditation； with my arms folded； I thought I heard a rustling in
the bushes over against me。 I turned my eyes in that direction；
but saw nothing。 'Some bird；' said I； 'an owl； perhaps'； and once
more I fell into meditation； my mind wandered from one thing to
another … musing now on the structure of the Roman tongue … now on
the rise and fall of the Persian power … and now on the powers
vested in recorders at quarter…sessions。 I was thinking what a
fine thing it must be to be a recorder of the peace； when； lifting
up my eyes； I saw right opposite； not a culprit at the bar； but；
staring at me through a gap in the bush； a face wild and strange；
half covered with gray hair； I only saw it a moment； the next it
had disappeared。
CHAPTER LXXI
Friend of Slingsby … All quiet … Danger … The two cakes … Children
in the wood … Don't be angry … In deep thought … Temples throbbing
… Deadly sick … Another blow … No answer … How old are you？ … Play
and sacrament … Heavy heart … Song of poison … Drow of gypsies …
The dog … Ely's church … Get up； bebee … The vehicle … Can you
speak？ … The oil。
THE next day； at an early hour； I harnessed my little pony； and；
putting my things in my cart； I went on my projected stroll。
Crossing the moor； I arrived in about an hour at a small village；
from which； after a short stay； I proceeded to another； and from
thence to a third。 I found that the name of Slingsby was well
known in these parts。
'If you are a friend of Slingsby you must be an honest lad；' said
an ancient crone； 'you shall never want for work whilst I can give
it you。 Here； take my kettle； the bottom came out this morning；
and lend me that of yours till you bring it back。 I'm not afraid
to trust you … not I。 Don't hurry yourself； young man； if you
don't come back for a fortnight I shan't have the worse opinion of
you。'
I returned to my quarters at evening； tired； but rejoiced at heart；
I had work before me for several days； having collected various
kekaubies which required mending； in place of those which I left
behind … those which I had been employed upon during the last few
days。 I found all quiet in the lane or glade； and； unharnessing my
little horse； I once more pitched my tent in the old spot beneath
the ash； lighted my fire； ate my frugal meal； and then； after
looking for some time at the heavenly bodies； and more particularly
at the star Jupiter； I entered my tent； lay down upon my pallet；
and went to sleep。
Nothing occurred on the following day which requires any particular
notice； nor indeed on the one succeeding that。 It was about noon
on the third day that I sat beneath the shade of the ash tree； I
was not at work； for the weather was particularly hot； and I felt
but little inclination to make any exertion。 Leaning my back
against the tree； I was not long in falling into a slumber； I
particularly remember that slumber of mine beneath the ash tree；
for it was about the sweetest slumber that I ever enjoyed； how long
I continued in it I do not know； I could almost have wished that it
had lasted to the present time。 All of a sudden it appeared to me
that a voice cried in my ear； 'Danger！ danger！ danger！' Nothing
seemingly could be more distinct than the words which I heard； then
an uneasy sensation came over me； which I strove to get rid of； and
at last succeeded； for I awoke。 The gypsy girl was standing just
opposite to me； with her eyes fixed upon my countenance； a singular
kind of little dog stood beside her。
'Ha！' said I； 'was it you that cried danger？ What danger is
there？'
'Danger； brother； there is no danger； what danger should there be？
I called to my little dog； but that was in the wood； my little
dog's name is not danger； but Stranger； what danger should there
be； brother？'
'What； indeed； except in sleeping beneath a tree； what is that you
have got in your hand？'
'Something for you；' said the girl； sitting down and proceeding to
untie a white napkin； 'a pretty manricli； so sweet； so nice； when I
went home to my people I told my grand…bebee how kind you had been
to the poor person's child； and when my grand…bebee saw the
kekaubi； she said； 〃Hir mi devlis； it won't do for the poor people
to be ungrateful； by my God； I will bake a cake for the young harko
mescro。〃'
'But there are two cakes。'
'Yes； brother； two cakes； both for you； my grandbebee meant them
both for you … but list； brother； I will have one of them for
bringing them。 I know you will give me one； pretty brother； gray…
haired brother … which shall I have； brother？'
In the napkin were two round cakes； seemingly made of rich and
costly compounds； and precisely similar in form； each weighing
about half a pound。
'Which shall I have； brother？' said the gypsy girl。
'Whichever you please。'
'No； brother； no； the cakes are yours； not mine。 It is for you to
say。'
'Well； then； give me the one nearest you； and take the other。'
'Yes； brother； yes；' said the girl； and taking the cakes； she flung
them into the air two or three times； catching them as they fell；
and singing the while。 'Pretty brother； gray…haired brother …
here； brother；' said she； 'here is your cake； this other is mine。'
'Are you sure；' said I； taking the cake； 'that this is the one I
chose？'
'Quite sure； brother； but if you like you can have mine； there's no
difference； however … shall I eat？'
'Yes； sister； eat。'
'See； brother； I do； now； brother； eat； pretty brother； gray…haired
brother。'
'I am not hungry。'
'Not hungry！ well； what then … what has being hungry to do with the
matter？ It is my grandbebee's cake which was sent because you were
kind to the poor person's child； eat； brother； eat； and we shall be
like the children in the wood that the gorgios speak of。'
'The children in the wood had nothing to eat。'
'Yes； they had hips and haws； we have better。 Eat； brother。'
'See； sister； I do；' and I ate a piece of the cake。
'Well； brother； how do you like it？' said the girl； looking fixedly
at me。
'It is very rich and sweet； and yet there is something strange
about it； I don't think I shall eat any more。'
'Fie； brother； fie； to find fault with the poor person's cake； see；
I have nearly eaten mine。'
'That's a pretty little dog。'
'Is it not； brother？ that's my juggal； my little sister； as I call
her。'
'Come here； juggal；' said I to the animal。
'What do you want with my juggal？' said the girl。
'Only to give her a piece of cake；' said I； offering the dog a
piece which I had just broken off。
'What do you mean？' said the girl； snatching the dog away； 'my
grandbebee's cake is not for dogs。'
'Why； I just now saw you give the animal a piece of yours。'
'You lie； brother； you saw no such thing； but I see how it is； you
wish to affront the poor person's child。 I shall go to my house。'
'Keep still； and don't be angry； see； I have eaten the piece which
I offered the dog。 I meant no offence。 It is a sweet cake after
all。'
'Isn't it； brother？ I am glad you like it。 Offence； brother； no
offence at all！ I am so glad you like my grandbebee's cake； but
she will be wanting me at home。 Eat one piece more of grandbebee's
cake； and I will go。'
'I am not hungry； I will put the rest by。'
'One piece more before I go； handsome brother； gray…haired
brother。'
'I will not eat any more； I have already eaten more than I wished
to oblige you； if you must go； good…day to you。'
The girl rose upon her feet； looked hard at me； then at the
remainder of the cake which I held in my hand； and then at me
again； and then stood for a moment or two； as if in deep thought；
presently an air of satisfaction came over her countenance； she
smiled and said； 'Well； brother； well； do as you please； I merely
wished you to eat because you have been so kind to the poor
person's child。 She loves you so； that she could have wished to
have seen you eat it all； good…bye； brother； I daresay when I am
gone you will eat some more of it； and if you don't； I daresay you
have eaten enough to … to … show your love for us。 After all it
was a poor person's cake； a Rommany manricli； and all you gorgios
are somewhat gorgious。 Farewell； brother； pretty brother； gray…
haired brother。 Come； juggal。'
I remained under the ash tree seated on the grass for a minute or
two； and endeavoured to resume the occupation in which I had been
engaged before I fell asleep； but I felt no inclination for labour。
I then thought I would sleep again； and once more reclined against
the tree； and slumbered for some little time； but my sleep was more
agitated than before。 Somethin