"Come, wife," said Mr. Petulengro; "we will no longer intrude upon
the rye and rawnie; there is such a thing as being troublesome."
Thereupon Mr. Petulengro and his wife took their leave, with many
salutations. "Then you are going?" said I, when Belle and I were
left alone. "Yes," said Belle; "I am going on a journey; my
affairs compel me." "But you will return again?" said I. "Yes,"
said Belle, "I shall return once more." "Once more," said I; "what
do you mean by once more? The Petulengros will soon be gone, and
will you abandon me in this place?" "You were alone here," said
Belle, "before I came, and I suppose, found it agreeable, or you
would not have stayed in it." "Yes," said I, "that was before I
knew you; but having lived with you here, I should be very loth to
live here without you." "Indeed," said Belle; "I did not know that
I was of so much consequence to you. Well, the day is wearing
away--I must go and harness Traveller to the cart." "I will do
that," said I, "or anything else you may wish me. Go and prepare
yourself; I will see after Traveller and the cart." Belle departed
to her tent, and I set about performing the task I had undertaken.
In about half-an-hour Belle again made her appearance--she was
dressed neatly and plainly. Her hair was no longer in the Roman
fashion, in which Pakomovna had plaited it, but was secured by a
comb; she held a bonnet in her hand. "Is there anything else I can
do for you?" I demanded. "There are two or three bundles by my
tent, which you can put into the cart," said Belle. I put the
bundles into the cart, and then led Traveller and the cart up the
winding path to the mouth of the dingle, near which was Mr.
Petulengro's encampment. Belle followed. At the top, I delivered
the reins into her hands; we looked at each other stedfastly for
some time. Belle then departed, and I returned to the dingle,
where, seating myself on my stone, I remained for upwards of an