"Marriage is an honourable estate, Ursula."

"Well, brother, suppose it be?"

"I don't see why a Romany chi should object to enter into the
honourable estate of wedlock with a gorgio."

"You don't, brother; don't you?"

"No," said I; "and, moreover, I am aware, notwithstanding your
evasion, Ursula, that marriages and connections now and then occur
between gorgios and Romany chies; the result of which is the mixed
breed, called half and half, which is at present travelling about
England, and to which the Flaming Tinman belongs, otherwise called
Anselo Herne."

"As for the half and halfs," said Ursula, "they are a bad set; and
there is not a worse blackguard in England than Anselo Herne."

"All that you say may be very true, Ursula, but you admit that
there are half and halfs."

"The more's the pity, brother."

"Pity, or not, you admit the fact; but how do you account for it?"

"How do I account for it? why, I will tell you, by the break up of
a Roman family, brother--the father of a small family dies, and,
perhaps, the mother; and the poor children are left behind;
sometimes, they are gathered up by their relations, and sometimes,