"The bank, overhanging the deep water, gave way under him, brother,
and he was drowned; for, like most of our people, he could not
swim, or only a little. The body, after it had been in the water a
long time, came up of itself, and was found floating. Well,
brother, when the people of the neighbourhood found that I was the
wife of the drowned man, they were very kind to me, and made a
subscription for me, with which, after having seen my husband
buried, I returned the way I had come, till I met Jasper and his
people, and with them I have travelled ever since: I was very
melancholy for a long time, I assure you, brother; for the death of
my husband preyed very much upon my mind."

"His death was certainly a very shocking one, Ursula; but, really,
if he had died a natural one, you could scarcely have regretted it,
for he appears to have treated you barbarously."

"Women must bear, brother; and, barring that he kicked and beat me,
and drove me out to tell dukkerin when I could scarcely stand, he
was not a bad husband. A man, by gypsy law, brother, is allowed to
kick and beat his wife, and to bury her alive, if he thinks proper.
I am a gypsy, and have nothing to say against the law."

"But what has Mikailia Chikno to say about it?"

"She is a cripple, brother, the only cripple amongst the Roman
people: so she is allowed to do and say as she pleases. Moreover,
her husband does not think fit to kick or beat her, though it is my
opinion she would like him all the better if he were occasionally
to do so, and threaten to bury her alive; at any rate, she would
treat him better, and respect him more."