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e it who said he wanted Clara。 Clara went out trembling; had some discourse with the man in an unknown tongue; and shortly returned in tears; and said that she must go。 〃What for?〃 said her friends。 〃Did you not promise to stay with us?〃 〃I did so;〃 said the girl; weeping more bitterly; 〃but that man is my brother; who says I must go with him; and what he says must be。〃 So with her brother she departed; and her Christian friends never saw her again。 What became of her? Was she made away with? Many thought she was; but she was not。 Ryley put her into a light cart; drawn by 〃a flying pony;〃 and hurried her across England; even to distant Norfolk; where he left her; after threatening her; with three Gypsy women who were devoted to him。 With these women the writer found her one night encamped in a dark wood; and had much discourse with her; both on Christian and Egyptian matters。 She was very melancholy; bitterly regretted having been compelled to quit her Christian friends; and said that she wished she had never been a Gypsy。 The writer; after exhorting her to keep a firm grip of her Christianity; departed; and did not see her again for nearly a quarter of a century; when he met her on Epsom Downs; on the Derby day when the terrible horse Gladiateur beat all the English steeds。 She was then very much changed; very much changed indeed; appearing as a full…blown Egyptian matron; with two very handsome daughters flaringly dressed in genuine Gypsy fashion; to whom she was giving motherly counsels as to the best means to hok and dukker the gentlefolks。 All her Christianity she appeared to have flung to the dogs; for when the writer spoke to her on that very important subject; she made no answer save by an indescribable Gypsy look。 On other matters she was communicative enough; telling the writer; amongst other things; that since he saw her she had been twice married; and both times very well; for that her first husband; by whom she had the two daughters whom the writer 〃kept staring at;〃 was a man every inch of him; and her second; who was then on the Downs grinding knives with a machine he had; though he had not much manhood; being nearly eighty years old; had something much better; namely a mint of money; which she hoped shortly to have in her own possession。
Ryley; like most of the Bosvils; was a tinker by profession; but; though a tinker; he was amazingly proud and haughty of heart。 His grand ambition was to be a great man among his people; a Gypsy King。 To this end he furnished himself with clothes made after the costliest Gypsy fashion: the two hinder buttons of the coat; which was of thick blue cloth; were broad gold pieces of Spain; generally called ounces; the fore…buttons were English 〃spaded guineas〃; the buttons of the waistcoat were half…guineas; and those of the collar and the wrists of his shirt were seven…shilling gold pieces。 In this coat he would frequently make his appearance on a magnificent horse; whose hoofs; like those of the steed of a Turkish sultan; were cased in shoes of silver。 How did he support such expense? it may be asked。 Partly by driving a trade in wafodu luvvu; counterfeit coin; with which he was supplied by certain honest tradespeople of Brummagem; partly and principally by large sums of money which he received from his two wives; and which they obtained by the practice of certain arts peculiar to Gypsy females。 One of his wives was a truly remarkable woman: she was of the Petulengro or Smith tribe; her Christian name; if Christian name it can be called; was Xuri or Shuri; and from her exceeding smartness and cleverness she was generally called by the Gypsies Yocky Shuri;that is; smart or clever Shuri; yocky being a Gypsy word; signifying 'clever。' She could dukkerthat is; tell fortunesto perfection; by which alone during the racing season she could make a hundred pounds a month。 She was good at the big hok; that is; at inducing people to put money into her hands; in the hope of its being multiplied; and; oh dear! how she could caurthat is; filch gold rings and trinkets from jewellers' cases; the kind of thing which the Spanish Gypsy women call ustilar pastesas; filching with the hands。 Frequently she would disappear; and travel about England; and Scotland too; dukkering; hokking; and cauring; and after the lapse of a month return and deliver to her husband; like a true and faithful wife; the proceeds of her industry。 So no wonder that the Flying Tinker; as he was called; was enabled to cut a grand appearance。 He was very fond of hunting; and would frequently join the field in regular hunting costume; save and except that; instead of the leather hunting…cap; he wore one of fur with a gold band around it; to denote that though he mixed with Gorgios he was still a Romany…chal。 Thus equipped and mounted on a capital hunter; whenever he encountered a Gypsy encampment he would invariably dash through it; doing all the harm he could; in order; as he said; to let the juggals know that he was their king and had a right to do what he pleased with his own。 Things went on swimmingly for a great many years; but; as prosperity does not continue for ever; his dark hour came at last。 His wives got into trouble in one or two expeditions; and his dealings in wafodu luvvu began to be noised about。 Moreover; by his grand airs and violent proceedings he had incurred the hatred of both Gorgios and Gypsies; particularly of the latter; some of whom he had ridden over and lamed for life。 One day he addressed his two wives:…
〃The Gorgios seek to hang me; The Gypsies seek to kill me: This country we must leave。〃
Shuri。
I'll jaw with you to heaven; I'll jaw with you to Yaudors … But not if Lura goes。〃
Lura。
〃I'll jaw with you to heaven; And to the wicked country; Though Shuri goeth too。〃
Ryley。
〃Since I must choose betwixt ye; My choice is Yocky Shuri; Though Lura loves me best。〃
Lura。
〃My blackest curse on Shuri! Oh; Ryley; I'll not curse you; But you will never thrive。〃
She then took her departure with her cart and donkey; and Ryley remained with Shuri。
Ryley。
〃I've chosen now betwixt ye; Your wish you now have gotten; But for it you shall smart。〃
He then struck her with his fist on the cheek; and broke her jawbone。 Shuri uttered no cry or complaint; only mumbled:
〃Although with broken jawbone; I'll follow thee; my Ryley; Since Lura doesn't jal。〃
Thereupon Ryley and Yocky Shuri left Yorkshire; and wended their way to London; where they took up their abode in the Gypsyry near the Shepherd's Bush。 Shuri went about dukkering and hokking; but not with the spirit of former times; for she was not quite so young as she had been; and her jaw; which was never properly cured; pained her much。 Ryley went about tinkering; but he was unacquainted with London and its neighbourhood; and did not get much to do。 An old Gypsy…man; who was driving about a little cart filled with skewers; saw him standing in a state of perplexity at a place where four roads met。
Old Gypsy。
〃Methinks I see a brother! Who's your father? Who's your mother? And what may be your name?〃
Ryley。
〃A Bosvil was my father; A Bosvil was my mother; And Ryley is my name。〃