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Woman。〃The house that your honour was looking at so attentively when I first spoke to ye? A queer…looking house it is; and a queer kind of man once lived in it。 Does your honour know who once lived in that house?〃
Myself。〃No。 How should I? I am here for the first time; and after taking a bite and sup at the inn at the town over yonder I strolled hither。〃
Woman。〃Does your honour come from far?〃
Myself。〃A good way。 I came from Strandraar; the farthest part of Galloway; where I landed from a ship which brought me from Ireland。〃
Woman。〃And what may have brought your honour into these parts?〃
Myself。〃Oh; my ain wee bit of business brought me into these parts。〃
〃Which wee bit of business is nae business of mine;〃 said the woman; smiling。 〃Weel; your honour is quite right to keep your ain counsel; for; as your honour weel kens; if a person canna keep his ain counsel it is nae likely that any other body will keep it for him。 But to gae back to the queer house; and the queer man that once 'habited it。 That man; your honour; was old Will Faa。〃
Myself。〃Old Will Faa!〃
Woman。〃Yes。 Old Will Faa; the Gypsy king; smuggler; and innkeeper; he lived in that inn。〃
Myself。〃Oh; then that house has been an inn?〃
Woman。〃It still is an inn; and has always been an inn; and though it has such an eerie look it is sometimes lively enough; more especially after the Gypsies have returned from their summer excursions in the country。 It's a roaring place then。 They spend most of their sleight…o'…hand gains in that house。〃
Myself。〃Is the house still kept by a Faa?〃
Woman。〃No; sir; there are no Faas to keep it。 The name is clean dead in the land; though there is still some of the blood remaining。〃
Myself。〃I really should like to see some of the blood。〃
Woman。〃Weel; sir; you can do that without much difficulty; there are not many Gypsies just now in Kirk Yetholm; but the one who they say has more of his blood than any one else happens to be here。 I mean his grandbairnhis daughter's daughter; she whom they ca' the 'Gypsy Queen o' Yetholm;' and whom they lead about the toon once a year; mounted on a cuddy; with a tin crown on her head; with much shouting; and with mony a barbaric ceremony。〃
Myself。〃I really should like to see her。〃
Woman。〃Weel; sir; there's a woman behind you; seated at the doorway; who can get your honour not only the sight of her; but the speech of her; for she is one of the race; and a relation of hers; and; to tell ye the truth; she has had her eye upon your honour for some time past; expecting to be asked about the qeeen; for scarcely anybody comes to Yetholm but goes to see the queen; and some gae so far as to say that they merely crowned her queen in hopes of bringing grist to the Gypsy mill。〃
I thanked the woman; and was about to turn away; in order to address myself to the other woman seated on the step; when my obliging friend said; 〃I beg your pardon; sir; but before ye go I wish to caution you; when you get to the speech of the queen; not to put any speerings to her about a certain tongue or dialect which they say the Gypsies have。 All the Gypsies become glum and dour as soon as they are spoken to about their language; and particularly the queen。 The queen might say something uncivil to your honour; should you ask her questions about her language。〃
Myself。〃Oh; then the Gypsies of Yetholm have a language of their own?〃
Woman。〃I canna say; sir; I dinna ken whether they have or not; I have been at Yetholm several years; about my ain wee bit o' business; and never heard them utter a word that was not either English or broad Scotch。 Some people say that they have a language of their ain; and others say that they have nane; and moreover that; though they call themselves Gypsies; they are far less Gypsy than Irish; a great deal of Irish being mixed in their veins with a very little of the much more respectable Gypsy blood。 It may be sae; or it may be not; perhaps your honour will find out。 That's the woman; sir; just behind ye at the door。 Gud e'en。 I maun noo gang and boil my cup o'tay。〃
To the woman at the door I now betook myself。 She was seated on the threshold; and employed in knitting。 She was dressed in white; and had a cap on her head; from which depended a couple of ribbons; one on each side。 As I drew near she looked up。 She had a full; round; smooth face; and her complexion was brown; or rather olive; a hue which contrasted with that of her eyes; which were blue。
〃There is something Gypsy in that face;〃 said I to myself; as I looked at her; 〃but I don't like those eyes。〃
〃A fine evening;〃 said I to her at last。
〃Yes; sir;〃 said the woman; with very little of the Scotch accent; 〃it is a fine evening。 Come to see the town?〃
〃Yes;〃 said I; 〃I am come to see the town。 A nice little town it seems。〃
〃And I suppose come to see the Gypsies; too;〃 said the woman; with a half smile。
〃Well;〃 said I; 〃to be frank with you; I came to see the Gypsies。 You are not one; I suppose?〃
〃Indeed I am;〃 said the woman; rather sharply; 〃and who shall say that I am not; seeing that I am a relation of old Will Faa; the man whom the woman from Haddington was speaking to you about; for I heard her mention his name?〃
〃Then;〃 said I; 〃you must be related to her whom they call the Gypsy queen。〃
〃I am; indeed; sir。 Would you wish to see her?〃
〃By all means;〃 said I。 〃I should wish very much to see the Gypsy queen。〃
〃Then I will show you to her; sir; many gentlefolks from England come to see the Gypsy queen of Yetholm。 Follow me; sir!〃
She got up; and; without laying down her knitting…work; went round the corner; and began to ascend the hill。 She was strongly made; and was rather above the middle height。 She conducted me to a small house; some little way up the hill。 As we were going; I said to her; 〃As you are a Gypsy; I suppose you have no objection to a coro of koshto levinor?〃 {7}
She stopped her knitting for a moment; and appeared to consider; and then resuming it; she said hesitatingly; 〃No; sir; no! None at all! That is; not exactly!〃
〃She is no true Gypsy; after all;〃 said I to myself。
We went through a little garden to the door of the house; which stood ajar。 She pushed it open; and looked in; then; turning round; she said: 〃She is not here; sir; but she is close at hand。 Wait here till I go and fetch her。〃 She went to a house a little farther up the hill; and I presently saw her returning with another female; of slighter build; lower in stature; and apparently much older。 She came towards me with much smiling; smirking; and nodding; which I returned with as much smiling and nodding as if I had known her for threescore years。 She motioned me with her hand to enter the house。 I did so。 The other woman returned down the hill; and the queen of the Gypsies entering; and shutting the door; confronted me on the floor; and said; in a rather musical; but slightly faltering voice:
〃Now; sir; in what can I oblige you?〃
Thereupon; letting the umbrella fall; which I invariably carry about with me in my journeyings; I flung my arms three times up into the air; and in an exceedingly disagreeable voice; owing to a cold which