按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
her short； thick legs； and； if requested； would take up the heaviest man in Wandsworth or Battersea and walk away with him。 She is； upon the whole； the oddest Gypsy woman ever seen； see her once and you will never forget her。 Who is she？ you ask。 Who is she？ Why； Mrs。 Cooper； the wife of Jack Cooper； the fighting Gypsy； once the terror of all the Light Weights of the English Ring； who knocked West Country Dick to pieces； and killed Paddy O'Leary； the fighting pot… boy； Jack Randall's pet。 Ah； it would have been well for Jack if he had always stuck to his true； lawful Romany wife； whom at one time he was very fond of； and whom he used to dress in silks and satins； and best scarlet cloth； purchased with the money gained in his fair； gallant battles in the Ring！ But he did not stick to her； deserting her for a painted Jezebel； to support whom he sold his battles； by doing which he lost his friends and backers； then took from his poor wife all he had given her； and even plundered her of her own property； down to the very blankets which she lay upon； and who finally was so infatuated with love for his paramour that he bore the blame of a crime which she had committed； and in which he had no share； suffering ignominy and transportation in order to save her。 Better had he never deserted his tatchie romadie； his own true Charlotte； who； when all deserted him； the painted Jezebel being the first to do so； stood by him； supporting him with money in prison； and feeing counsel on his trial from the scanty proceeds of her dukkering。 All that happened many years ago； Jack's term of transportation； a lengthy one； has long； long been expired； but he has not come back； though every year since the expiration of his servitude he has written her a letter； or caused one to be written to her； to say that he is coming； that he is coming； so that she is always expecting him； and is at all times willing； as she says； to re…invest him with all the privileges of a husband； and to beg and dukker to support him if necessary。 A true wife she has been to him； a tatchie romadie； and has never taken up with any man since he left her； though many have been the tempting offers that she has had； connubial offers； notwithstanding the oddity of her appearance。 Only one wish she has now in this world； the wish that he may return； but her wish； it is to be feared； is a vain one； for Jack lingers and lingers in the Sonnakye Tem； golden Australia； teaching； it is said； the young Australians to box； tempted by certain shining nuggets； the produce of the golden region。 It is pleasant； though there is something mournful in it； to visit Mrs。 Cooper after nightfall； to sit with her in her little tent after she has taken her cup of tea； and is warming her tired limbs at her little coke fire； and hear her talk of old times and things： how Jack courted her 'neath the trees of Loughton Forest； and how； when tired of courting； they would get up and box； and how he occasionally gave her a black eye； and how she invariably flung him at a close； and how they were lawfully married at church； and what a nice man the clergyman was； and what funny things he said both before and after he had united them； how stoutly West Country Dick contended against Jack； though always losing； how in Jack's battle with Paddy O'Leary the Irishman's head in the last round was truly frightful； not a feature being distinguishable； and one of his ears hanging down by a bit of skin； how Jack vanquished Hardy Scroggins； whom Jack Randall himself never dared fight。 Then； again； her anecdotes of Alec Reed； cool； swift…hitting Alec； who was always smiling； and whose father was a Scotchman； his mother an Irishwoman； and who was born in Guernsey； and of Oliver； old Tom Oliver； who seconded Jack in all his winning battles； and after whom he named his son； his only child； Oliver； begotten of her in lawful wedlock； a good and affectionate son enough； but unable to assist her； on account of his numerous family。 Farewell； Mrs。 Cooper； true old Charlotte！ here's a little bit of silver for you； and a little bit of a gillie to sing：
Charlotta is my nav； I am a puro Purrun； My romado was Jack； The couring Vardomescro。 He muk'd me for a lubbeny； Who chor'd a rawnie's kissi； He penn'd 'twas he who lell'd it； And so was bitched pawdel。
Old Charlotte I am called； Of Lee I am a daughter； I married Fighting Jack； The famous Gypsy Cooper。 He left me for a harlot； Who pick'd a lady's pocket； He bore the blame to save her； And so was sent to Bot'ny。
Just within the bounds of the plain； and close by the road； may occasionally be seen a small caravan of rather a neat appearance。 It comes and goes suddenly； and is seldom seen there for more than three days at a time。 It belongs to a Gypsy female who； like Mrs。 Cooper； is a remarkable person； but is widely different from Mrs。 Cooper in many respects。 Mrs。 Cooper certainly does not represent the beau ideal of a Gypsy female； this doesa dark； mysterious； beautiful； terrible creature！ She is considerably above the middle height； powerfully but gracefully made； and about thirty…seven years of age。 Her face is oval； and of a dark olive。 The nose is Grecian； the cheek…bones rather high； the eyes somewhat sunk； but of a lustrous black； the mouth small； and the teeth exactly like ivory。 Upon the whole the face is exceedingly beautiful； but the expression is evil evil to a degree。 Who she is no one exactly knows； nor what is her name； nor whether she is single woman； wife； or widow。 Some say she is a foreign Gypsy； others from Scotland； but she is neitherher accent is genuine English。 What strikes one as most singular is the power she possesses of appearing in various charactersall Romany ones it is true； but so different as seemingly to require three distinct females of the race to represent them： sometimes she is the staid； quiet； respectable Gypsy； sometimes the forward and impudent； at others the awful and sublime。 Occasionally you may see her walking the streets dressed in a black silk gown； with a black silk bonnet on her head； over her left arm is flung a small carpet； a sample of the merchandise which is in her caravan； which is close at hand； driven by a brown boy； her address to her customers is highly polite； the tones of her voice are musical； though somewhat deep。 At Fairlop； on the first Friday of July； in the evening； she may be found near the Bald…faced Hind； dressed in a red cloak and a large beaver； her appearance is bold and recklessshe is dukkering low tradesmen and servant girls behind the trees at sixpence a head； or is bandying with the voice of a raven slang and obscenity with country boors； or with the blackguard butcher…boys who throng in from Whitechapel and Shoreditch to the Gypsy Fair。 At Goodwood； a few weeks after； you may see her in a beautiful half…riding dress； her hair fantastically plaited and adorned with pearls； standing beside the carriage of a Countess； telling the fortune of her ladyship with the voice and look of a pythoness。 She is a thing of incongruities； an incomprehensible being！ nobody can make her out； the writer himself has tried to make her out but could not； though he has spoken to her in his deepest Roma