’Noapologyisnecessary，’saidI；’willyoupleasetotakeanythingbeforeyougo？Ithinkthisyounglady，atmyrequest，wouldcontrivetomakeyouacupoftea。’
　　’Tea!’saidthemaninblack；’he!he!Idon’tdrinktea；Idon’tlikeit-if，indeed，youhad，’andherehestopped。
　　’There’snothinglikeginandwater，isthere？’saidI，’butIamsorrytosayIhavenone。’
　　’Ginandwater，’saidthemaninblack，’howdoyouknowthatIamfondofginandwater？’
　　’DidInotseeyoudrinkingsomeatthepublic-house？’
　　’Youdid，’saidthemaninblack，’andIrememberthat，whenI
　　calledforsomeyourepeatedmywords-permitmetoask，isginandwateranunusualdrinkinEngland？’
　　’Itisnotusuallydrunkcold，andwithalumpofsugar，’saidI。
　　’AnddidyouknowwhoIwasbymycallingforitso？’
　　’Gypsieshavevariouswaysofobtaininginformation，’saidI。
　　’Withallyourknowledge，’saidthemaninblack，’youdonotappeartohaveknownthatIwascomingtovisityou？’
　　’Gypsiesdonotpretendtoknowanythingwhichrelatestothemselves，’saidI；’butIadviseyou，ifyouevercomeagain，tocomeopenly。’
　　’HaveIyourpermissiontocomeagain？’saidthemaninblack。
　　’Comewhenyouplease；thisdingleisasfreeforyouasme。’
　　’Iwillvisityouagain，’saidthemaninblack-’tillthen，addio。’
　　’Belle，’saidI，afterthemaninblackhaddeparted，’wedidnottreatthatmanveryhospitably；heleftuswithouthavingeatenordrunkatourexpense。’
　　’Youofferedhimsometea，’saidBelle，’which，asitismine，I
　　shouldhavegrudgedhim，forIlikehimnot。’
　　’Ourlikingordislikinghimhadnothingtodowiththematter，hewasourvisitor，andoughtnottohavebeenpermittedtodepartdry；livingaswedointhisdesert，weoughtalwaystobepreparedtoadministertothewantsofourvisitors。Belle，doyouknowwheretoprocureanygoodHollands？’
　　’IthinkIdo，’saidBelle，’but-’
　　’Iwillhavenobuts。Belle，Iexpectthatwithaslittledelayaspossibleyouprocure，atmyexpense，thebestHollandsyoucanfind。’
　　CHAPTERXCI
　　Excursions-AdventurousEnglish-Opaqueforests-Thegreatestpatience。
　　TIMEpassedon，andBelleandIlivedinthedingle；whenIsaylived，thereadermustnotimaginethatwewerealwaysthere。Shewentoutuponherpursuits，andIwentoutwhereinclinationledme；butmyexcursionswereveryshortones，andhersoccasionallyoccupiedwholedaysandnights。IfIamaskedhowwepassedthetimewhenweweretogetherinthedingle，Iwouldanswerthatwepassedthetimeverytolerably，allthingsconsidered；weconversedtogether，andwhentiredofconversingIwouldsometimesgiveBellealessoninArmenian；herprogresswasnotparticularlybrilliant，butuponthewholesatisfactory；inaboutafortnightshehadhunguponehundredHaikannumeralsuponthehakeofhermemory。I
　　foundherconversationhighlyentertaining；shehadseenmuchofEnglandandWales，andhadbeenacquaintedwithsomeofthemostremarkablecharacterswhotravelledtheroadsatthatperiod；andletmebepermittedtosaythatmanyremarkablecharactershavetravelledtheroadsofEngland，ofwhomfamehasneversaidaword。
　　Ilovedtohearheranecdotesofthesepeople；someofwhomIfoundhadoccasionallyattemptedtolayviolenthandseitheruponherpersonoreffects，andhadinvariablybeenhumbledbyherwithouttheassistanceofeitherjusticeorconstable。Icouldclearlysee，however，thatshewasrathertiredofEngland，andwishedforachangeofscene；shewasparticularlyfondoftalkingofAmerica，towhichcountryheraspirationschieflytended。ShehadheardmuchofAmerica，whichhadexcitedherimagination；foratthattimeAmericawasmuchtalkedof，onroadsandinhomesteads-atleast，sosaidBelle，whohadgoodopportunitiesofknowing-andmostpeopleallowedthatitwasagoodcountryforadventurousEnglish。Thepeoplewhochieflyspokeagainstit，assheinformedme，weresoldiersdisbandeduponpensions，thesextonsofvillagechurches，andexcisemen。Bellehadacravingdesiretovisitthatcountry，andtowanderwithcartandlittleanimalamongstitsforests；whenIwouldoccasionallyobjectthatshewouldbeexposedtodangerfromstrangeandperversecustomers，shesaidthatshehadnotwanderedtheroadsofEnglandsolongandalone，tobeafraidofanythingwhichmightbefallinAmerica；andthatshehoped，withGod’sfavour，tobeabletotakeherownpart，andtogivetoperversecustomersasgoodastheymightbring。Shehadadauntlessheart，thatsameBelle。SuchwasthestapleofBelle’sconversation。Asformine，Iwouldendeavourtoentertainherwithstrangedreamsofadventure，inwhichIfiguredinopaqueforests，stranglingwildbeasts，ordiscoveringandplunderingthehoardsofdragons；andsometimesIwouldnarratetoherotherthingsfarmoregenuine-howIhadtamedsavagemares，wrestledwithSatan，andhaddealingswithferociouspublishers。Bellehadakindheart，andwouldweepattheaccountsIgaveherofmyearlywrestlingswiththedarkMonarch。Shewouldsigh，too，asIrecountedthemanyslightsanddegradationsIhadreceivedatthehandsofferociouspublishers；butshehadthecuriosityofawoman；andonce，whenItalkedtoherofthetriumphswhichIhadachievedoverunbrokenmares，sheliftedupherheadandquestionedmeastothesecretofthevirtuewhichIpossessedovertheaforesaidanimals；whereuponIsternlyreprimanded，andforthwithcommandedhertorepeattheArmeniannumerals；and，onherdemurring，Imadeuseofwords，toescapewhichshewasgladtocomply，sayingtheArmeniannumeralsfromonetoahundred，whichnumerals，asapunishmentforhercuriosity，Imadeherrepeatthreetimes，loadingherwiththebitterestreproacheswhenevershecommittedtheslightesterror，eitherinaccentorpronunciation，whichreproachessheappearedtobearwiththegreatestpatience。AndnowIhavegivenaveryfairaccountofthemannerinwhichIsopelBernersandmyselfpassedourtimeinthedingle。
　　CHAPTERXCII
　　Thelandlord-Rathertooold-Withoutashilling-Reputation-A
　　fortnightago-Liquids-Themainchance-Respectability-
　　Irrationalbeings-Parliamentcove-Mybrewer。
　　AMONGSTotherexcursions，Iwentseveraltimestothepublic-housetowhichIintroducedthereaderinaformerchapter。IhadexperiencedsuchbeneficialeffectsfromthealeIhaddrunkonthatoccasion，thatIwishedtoputitsvirtuetoafrequenttest；
　　nordidthealeonsubsequenttrialsbeliethegoodopinionwhichI
　　hadatfirstformedofit。AftereachvisitwhichImadetothepublic-house，Ifoundmyframestrongerandmymindmorecheerfulthantheyhadpreviouslybeen。Thelandlordappearedatalltimesgladtoseeme，andinsistedthatIshouldsitwithinthebar，where，leavinghisothergueststobeattendedtobyanieceofhis，whoofficiatedashishousekeeper，hewouldsitbesidemeandtalkofmattersconcerning’thering，’indulginghimselfwithacigarandaglassofsherry，whichhetoldmewashisfavouritewine，whilstIdrankmyale。’Ilovestheconversationofallyoucovesofthering，’saidheonce，’whichisnatural，seeingashowIhavefoughtinaringmyself。Ah，thereisnothinglikethering；IwishIwasnotrathertoooldtogoagainintoit。IoftenthinkIshouldliketohaveanotherrally-onemorerally，andthen-butthere’satimeforallthings-youthwillbeserved，everydoghashisday，andminehasbeenafineone-letmebecontent。AfterbeatingTomofHopton，therewasnotmuchmoretobedoneinthewayofreputation；Ihavelongsatinmybarthewonderandgloryofthishereneighbourhood。I’mcontent，asfarasreputationgoes；Ionlywishmoneywouldcomeinalittlefaster；however，thenextmainofcockswillbringmeinsomethinghandsome-comesoffnextWednesday，at-；haveventuredtenfive-
　　poundnotes-shouldn’tsayventuredeither-runnoriskatall，becausewhy？Iknowsmybirds。’AbouttendaysafterthisharangueIcalledagain，ataboutthreeo’clockoneafternoon。Thelandlordwasseatedonabenchbyatableinthecommonroom，whichwasentirelyempty；hewasneithersmokingnordrinking，butsatwithhisarmsfolded，andhisheadhangingdownoverhisbreast。
　　Atthesoundofmystephelookedup；’Ah，’saidhe，’Iamgladyouarecome，Iwasjustthinkingaboutyou。’’Thankyou，’saidI；’itwasverykindofyou，especiallyatatimelikethis，whenyourmindmustbefullofyourgoodfortune。Allowmetocongratulateyouonthesumsofmoneyyouwonbythemainofcocksat。Ihopeyoubroughtitallsafehome。’’Safehome!’saidthelandlord；’I
　　broughtmyselfsafehome，andthatwasall；camehomewithoutashilling，regularlydone，cleanedout。’’Iamsorryforthat，’
　　saidI；’butafteryouhadwonthemoney，yououghttohavebeensatisfied，andnotriskeditagain-howdidyouloseit？Ihopenotbythepeaandthimble。’’Peaandthimble，’saidthelandlord-’notI；thoseconfoundedcocksleftmenothingtolosebythepeaandthimble。’’Dearme，’saidI；’Ithoughtthatyouknewyourbirds。’’Well，soIdid，’saidthelandlord；’Iknewthebirdstobegoodbirds，andsotheyproved，andwouldhavewonifbetterbirdshadnotbeenbroughtagainstthem，ofwhichIknewnothing，andsodoyouseeIamdone，regularlydone。’’Well，’saidI，’don’tbecastdown；thereisonethingofwhichthecocksbytheirmisfortunecannotdepriveyou-yourreputation；makethemostofthat，giveupcock-fighting，andbecontentwiththecustomofyourhouse，ofwhichyouwillalwayshaveplenty，aslongasyouarethewonderandgloryoftheneighbourhood。’
　　Thelandlordstruckthetablebeforehimviolentlywithhisfist。
　　’Confoundmyreputation!’saidhe。’NoreputationthatIhavewillbesatisfactiontomybrewerfortheseventypoundsIowehim。
　　Reputationwon’tpassforthecurrentcoinofthishererealm；andletmetellyou，thatifitain’tbackedbysomeofit，itain’tabitbetterthanrottencabbage，asIhavefound。OnlythreeweekssinceIwas，asItoldyou，thewonderandgloryoftheneighbourhood；andpeopleusedtocometolookatme，andworshipme；butassoonasitbegantobewhisperedaboutthatIowedmoneytothebrewer，theypresentlyleftoffallthatkindofthing；andnow，duringthelastthreedays，sincethetaleofmymisfortunewiththecockshasgotwind，almosteverybodyhasleftoffcomingtothehouse，andthefewwhodoes，merelycomestoinsultandfloutme。Itwasonlylastnightthatfellow，Hunter，calledmeanoldfoolinmyownkitchenhere。Hewouldn’thavecalledmeafoolafortnightago；’twasIcalledhimfoolthen，andlastnighthecalledmeoldfool；whatdoyouthinkofthat？-themanthatbeatTomofHopton，tobecalled，notonlyafool，butanoldfool；andIhadn’theart，withoneblowofthisherefistintohisface，tosendhisheadringingagainstthewall；forwhenaman’spocketislow，doyousee，hisheartain’tmuchhigher；butitisofnousetalking，somethingmustbedone。Iwasthinkingofyoujustasyoucamein，foryouarejustthepersonthatcanhelpme。’
　　’Ifyoumean，’saidI，’toaskmetolendyouthemoneywhichyouwant，itwillbetonopurpose，asIhaveverylittleofmyown，justenoughformyownoccasions；itistrue，ifyoudesiredit，I
　　wouldbeyourintercessorwiththepersontowhomyouowethemoney，thoughIshouldhardlyimaginethatanythingIcouldsay-’
　　’Youarerightthere，’saidthelandlord；’muchthebrewerwouldcareforanythingyoucouldsayonmybehalf-yourgoingwouldbetheverywaytodomeupentirely。AprettyopinionhewouldhaveofthestateofmyaffairsifIweretosendhimsucha’cessorasyou；andasforyourlendingmemoney，don’tthinkIwaseverfoolenoughtosupposeeitherthatyouhadany，orifyouhadthatyouwouldbefoolenoughtolendmeany。No，no，thecovesoftheringknowsbetter；Ihavebeenintheringmyself，andknowswhatafightingcoveis，andthoughIwasfoolenoughtobackthosebirds，Iwasneverquitefoolenoughtolendanybodymoney。WhatIamabouttoproposeissomethingverydifferentfromgoingtomylandlord，orlendinganycapital；somethingwhich，thoughitwillputmoneyintomypocket，willlikewiseputsomethinghandsomeintoyourown。Iwanttogetupafightinthishereneighbourhood，whichwouldbesuretobringplentyofpeopletomyhouse，foraweekbeforeandafterittakesplace；andaspeoplecan’tcomewithoutdrinking，IthinkIcould，duringonefortnight，getoffforthebrewerallthesourandunsaleableliquidshenowhas，whichpeoplewouldn’tdrinkatanyothertime，andbythatmeans，doyousee，liquidatemydebt；then，bymeansofbetting，makingfirstallright，doyousee，IhavenodoubtthatIcouldputsomethinghandsomeintomypocketandyours，forIshouldwishyoutobethefightingman，asIthinkIcandependuponyou。’’Youreallymustexcuseme，’saidI；’Ihavenowishtofigureasapugilist；besides，thereissuchadifferenceinourages；youmaybethestrongermanofthetwo，andperhapsthehardesthitter，butIaminmuchbettercondition，ammoreactiveonmylegs，sothatI