第80章

Imadenoanswer，butcontinuedmywork，click，click，withthegravitywhichbecameoneofmyprofession。IallowedatleasthalfaminutetoelapsebeforeIevenliftedupmyeyes。

Agirlofaboutthirteenwasstandingbeforeme；herfeatureswereverypretty，butwithapeculiarexpression；hercomplexionwasaclearolive，andherjetblackhairhungbackuponhershoulders。

Shewasratherscantilydressed，andherarmsandfeetwerebare；

roundherneck，however，wasahandsomestringofcorals，withornamentsofgold；inherhandsheheldabulrush。

’Allalonehere，brother？’saidthegirl，asIlookedup；’allalonehere，inthelane；whereareyourwifeandchildren？’

’Whydoyoucallmebrother？’saidI；’amnobrotherofyours。Doyoutakemeforoneofyourpeople？Iamnogypsy；notI，indeed!’

’Don’tbeafraid，brother，youarenoRoman-Romanindeed，youarenothandsomeenoughtobeaRoman；notblackenough，tinkerthoughyoube。IfIcalledyoubrother，itwasbecauseIdidn’tknowwhatelsetocallyou。Marry，comeup，brother，Ishouldbesorrytohaveyouforabrother。’

’Thenyoudon’tlikeme？’

’Neitherlikeyounordislikeyou，brother；whatwillyouhaveforthatkekaubi？’

’What’stheuseoftalkingtomeinthatunchristianway；whatdoyoumean，younggentlewoman？’

’Lord，brother，whatafoolyouare；everytinkerknowswhatakekaubiis。Iwasaskingyouwhatyouwouldhaveforthatkettle。’

’Three-and-sixpence，younggentlewoman；isn’titwellmended？’

’Wellmended!Icouldhavedoneitbettermyself；three-and-

sixpence!it’sonlyfittobeplayedatfootballwith。’

’Iwilltakenolessforit，younggentlewoman；ithascausedmeaworldoftrouble。’

’Ineversawaworsemendedkettle。Isay，brother，yourhairiswhite。’

“Tisnature；yourhairisblack；nature，nothingbutnature。’

’Iamyoung，brother；myhairisblack-that’snature：youareyoung，brother；yourhairiswhite-that’snotnature。’

’Ican’thelpitifitbenot，butitisnatureafterall；didyouneverseegrayhairontheyoung？’

’Never!Ihavehearditistrueofagraylad，andabadonehewas。Oh，sobad。’

’Sitdownonthegrass，andtellmeallaboutit，sister；do，toobligeme，prettysister。’

’Hey，brother，youdon’tspeakasyoudid-youdon’tspeaklikeagorgio，youspeaklikeoneofus，youcallmesister。’

’Asyoucallmebrother；Iamnotanuncivilpersonafterall，sister。’

’Isay，brother，tellmeonething，andlookmeintheface-there-doyouspeakRommany？’

’Rommany!Rommany!whatisRommany？’

’WhatisRommany？