which he had begun in the three volumes of "Lavengro," issued
six years earlier. "Romany Rye" is described as a sequel to
"Lavengro," and takes up that story with the author and his
friend Isopel Berners encamped side by side in the Mumpers'
Dingle, whither the gipsies, Mr. and Mrs. Petulengro and their
relations, shortly afterwards arrive. The book consists of a
succession of episodes, without plot, the sole connecting
thread being Borrow's personality as figuring in them. Much of
the "Romany Rye" was written at Oulton Broad, where, after his
marriage in 1840, Borrow lived until he removed to Hereford
Square, Brompton. At Oulton, it is worthy of record, gipsies
were allowed to pitch their tents, the author of "Romany Rye"
and "Lavengro" mingling freely with them. As a novel, the
"Romany Rye" is preferred by many readers to any of Borrow's
other works.


_I.--The Roving Life_


It was, as usual, a brilliant morning, the dewy blades of the rye-grass
which covered the plain sparkled brightly in the beams of the sun, which
had probably been about two hours above the horizon. Near the mouth of
the dingle--Mumpers' Dingle, near Wittenhall, Staffordshire--where my
friend Isopel Berners and I, the travelling tinker, were encamped side
by side, a rather numerous body of my ancient friends and allies
occupied the ground. About five yards on the right, Mr. Petulengro was
busily employed in erecting his tent; he held in his hand an iron bar,
sharp at the bottom, with a kind of arm projecting from the top for the
purpose of supporting a kettle or cauldron over the fire. With the sharp