scarcely ascended to the breast of Isopel Berners. I could see
that Mrs. Petulengro gazed on Belle with unmixed admiration; so did
her husband. "Well," said the latter, "one thing I will say, which
is, that there is only one on earth worthy to stand up in front of
this she, and that is the beauty of the world, as far as man flesh
is concerned, Tawno Chikno; what a pity he did not come down!"

"Tawno Chikno," said Mrs. Petulengro, flaring up; "a pretty fellow
he to stand up in front of this gentlewoman, a pity he didn't come,
quotha? not at all, the fellow is a sneak, afraid of his wife. He
stand up against this rawnie! why, the look she has given me would
knock the fellow down."

"It is easier to knock him down with a look than with a fist," said
Mr. Petulengro; "that is, if the look comes from a woman: not that
I am disposed to doubt that this female gentlewoman is able to
knock him down either one way or the other. I have heard of her
often enough, and have seen her once or twice, though not so near
as now. Well, ma'am, my wife and I are come to pay our respects to
you; we are both glad to find that you have left off keeping
company with Flaming Bosville, and have taken up with my pal; he is
not very handsome, but a better--"

"I take up with your pal, as you call him! you had better mind what
you say," said Isopel Berners, "I take up with nobody."

"I merely mean taking up your quarters with him," said Mr.
Petulengro; "and I was only about to say a better fellow-lodger you
cannot have, or a more instructive, especially if you have a desire
to be inoculated with tongues, as he calls them. I wonder whether