conjuring him to return to the encampment. Mr. Petulengro, who was
by this time somewhat the worse for liquor, now fell into a
passion, swore several oaths, and asking me who had made me a Moses
over him and his brethren, told me to return to the encampment by
myself. Incensed at the unworthy return which my well-meant words
had received, I forthwith left the house, and having purchased a
few articles of provision, I set out for the dingle alone. It was
a dark night when I reached it, and descending I saw the glimmer of
a fire from the depths of the dingle; my heart beat with fond
anticipation of a welcome. "Isopel Berners is waiting for me,"
said I, "and the first words that I shall hear from her lips is
that she has made up her mind. We shall go to America, and be so
happy together." On reaching the bottom of the dingle, however, I
saw seated near the fire, beside which stood the kettle simmering,
not Isopel Berners, but a gypsy girl, who told me that Miss Berners
when she went away had charged her to keep up the fire, and have
the kettle boiling against my arrival. Startled at these words, I
inquired at what hour Isopel had left, and whither she was gone,
and was told that she had left the dingle, with her cart, about two
hours after I departed; but where she was gone she, the girl, did
not know. I then asked whether she had left no message, and the
girl replied that she had left none, but had merely given
directions about the kettle and fire, putting, at the same time,
six-pence into her hand. "Very strange," thought I; then
dismissing the gypsy girl I sat down by the fire. I had no wish
for tea, but sat looking on the embers, wondering what could be the
motive of the sudden departure of Isopel. "Does she mean to
return?" thought I to myself. "Surely she means to return," Hope
replied, "or she would not have gone away without leaving any
message"--"and yet she could scarcely mean to return," muttered