第172章

'Don't be afraid,brother,you are no Roman-Roman indeed,you are not handsome enough to be a Roman;not black enough,tinker though you be.If I called you brother,it was because I didn't know what else to call you.Marry,come up,brother,I should be sorry to have you for a brother.'

'Then you don't like me?'

'Neither like you nor dislike you,brother;what will you have for that kekaubi?'

'What's the use of talking to me in that unchristian way;what do you mean,young gentlewoman?'

'Lord,brother,what a fool you are;every tinker knows what a kekaubi is.I was asking you what you would have for that kettle.'

'Three-and-sixpence,young gentlewoman;isn't it well mended?'

'Well mended!I could have done it better myself;three-and-sixpence!it's only fit to be played at football with.'

'I will take no less for it,young gentlewoman;it has caused me a world of trouble.'

'I never saw a worse mended kettle.I say,brother,your hair is white.'

"Tis nature;your hair is black;nature,nothing but nature.'

'I am young,brother;my hair is black-that's nature:you are young,brother;your hair is white-that's not nature.'

'I can't help it if it be not,but it is nature after all;did you never see gray hair on the young?'

'Never!I have heard it is true of a gray lad,and a bad one he was.Oh,so bad.'

'Sit down on the grass,and tell me all about it,sister;do,to oblige me,pretty sister.'

'Hey,brother,you don't speak as you did-you don't speak like a gorgio,you speak like one of us,you call me sister.'

'As you call me brother;I am not an uncivil person after all,sister.'

'I say,brother,tell me one thing,and look me in the face-there-do you speak Rommany?'

'Rommany!Rommany!what is Rommany?'

'What is Rommany?our language to be sure;tell me,brother,only one thing,you don't speak Rommany?'

'You say it.'

'I don't say it,I wish to know.Do you speak Rommany?'

'Do you mean thieves'slang-cant?no,I don't speak cant,don't like it,I only know a few words;they call a sixpence a tanner,don't they?'

'I don't know,'said the girl,sitting down on the ground,'I was almost thinking-well,never mind,you don't know Rommany.I say,brother,I think I should like to have the kekaubi.'

'I thought you said it was badly mended?'

'Yes,yes,brother,but-'

'I thought you said it was only fit to be played at football with?'

'Yes,yes,brother,but-'

'What will you give for it?'

'Brother,I am the poor person's child,I will give you sixpence for the kekaubi.'

'Poor person's child;how came you by that necklace?'

'Be civil,brother;am I to have the kekaubi?'

'Not for sixpence;isn't the kettle nicely mended?'

'I never saw a nicer mended kettle,brother;am I to have the kekaubi,brother?'

'You like me then?'

'I don't dislike you-I dislike no one;there's only one,and him I don't dislike,him I hate.'

'Who is he?'

'I scarcely know,I never saw him,but 'tis no affair of yours,you don't speak Rommany;you will let me have the kekaubi,pretty brother?'

'You may have it,but not for sixpence;I'll give it to you.'

'Parraco tute,that is,I thank you,brother;the rikkeni kekaubi is now mine.O,rare!I thank you kindly,brother.'