第24章

“Goodwoman，“sayshe，“what’sthatyouaretalking？Isitbrokenlanguage？““Ofcourse，yourreverence，“saysI，“wearebrokenpeople；giveashilling，yourreverence，tothepoorbrokenwoman。“

Oh，thesegorgios!theygrudgeusourverylanguage!’

’Shecalledyouherson，Jasper？’

’Iamherson，brother。’

’Ithoughtyousaidyourparentswere-’

’Bitchadeypawdel；youthoughtright，brother。Thisismywife’smother。’

’Thenyouaremarried，Jasper？’

’Ay，truly；Iamhusbandandfather。Youwillseewifeandchaboanon。’

’Wherearetheynow？’

’Inthegav，penningdukkerin。’

’Weweretalkingoflanguage，Jasper？’

’True，brother。’

’Yoursmustbearumone？’

’’TiscalledRommany。’

’Iwouldgladlyknowit。’

’Youneeditsorely。’

’Wouldyouteachitme？’

’Nonesooner。’

’Supposewebeginnow？’

’Supposewedo，brother。’

’NotwhilstIamhere，’saidthewoman，flingingherknittingdown，andstartinguponherfeet；’notwhilstIamhereshallthisgorgiolearnRommany。Aprettymanoeuvre，truly；andwhatwouldbetheendofit？Igoestothefarmingkerwithmysister，totellafortune，andearnafewsixpencesforthechabes。Iseesajollypigintheyard，andIsaystomysister，speakingRommany，“Dosoandso，“saysI；whichthefarmingmanhearing，askswhatwearetalkingabout。“Nothingatall，master，“saysI；“somethingabouttheweather“；whenwhoshouldstartupfrombehindapale，wherehehasbeenlistening，butthisuglygorgio，cryingout，“Theyareafterpoisoningyourpigs，neighbour!“sothatwearegladtorun，Iandmysister，withperhapsthefarm-engroshoutingafterus。

Saysmysistertome，whenwehavegotfairlyoff，“Howcamethatuglyonetoknowwhatyousaidtome？“WhereuponIanswers，“ItallcomesofmysonJasper，whobringsthegorgiotoourfire，andmustneedsbeteachinghim。““Whowasfoolthere？“saysmysister。

“Who，indeed，butmysonJasper，“Ianswers。AndhereshouldIbeagreaterfooltositstillandsufferit；whichIwillnotdo。I

donotlikethelookofhim；helooksover-gorgeous。AnilldaytotheRomanswhenhemastersRommany；and，whenIsaysthat，Ipensatruedukkerin。’

’WhatdoyoucallGod，Jasper？’

’Youhadbetterbejawing，’saidthewoman，raisinghervoicetoaterriblescream；’youhadbetterbemovingoff，mygorgio；hangyouforakeenone，sittingtherebythefire，andstealingmylanguagebeforemyface。Doyouknowwhomyouhavetodealwith？DoyouknowthatIamdangerous？MynameisHerne，andIcomesofthehairyones!’

Andahairyoneshelooked!Sheworeherhairclubbeduponherhe