tell you; it is e'en "spaeing,"' said he, very seriously. 'Well,
then,' said I, 'I'll keep my own word, which is much the prettiest-
-spaeing! spaeing! why, I should be ashamed to make use of the
word, it sounds so much like a certain other word;' and then I made
a face as if I were unwell. 'Perhaps it's Scotch also for that?'
'What do ye mean by speaking in that guise to a gentleman?' said
he; 'you insolent vagabond, without a name or a country.' 'There
you are mistaken,' said I; 'my country is Egypt, but we 'Gyptians,
like you Scotch, are rather fond of travelling; and as for name--my
name is Jasper Petulengro, perhaps you have a better; what is it?'
'Sandy Macraw.' At that, brother, the gentlemen burst into a roar
of laughter, and all the ladies tittered."

"You were rather severe on the Scotchman, Jasper."

"Not at all, brother, and suppose I were, he began first; I am the
civilest man in the world, and never interfere with anybody, who
lets me and mine alone. He finds fault with Romany, forsooth! why,
L-d A'mighty, what's Scotch? He doesn't like our songs; what are
his own? I understand them as little as he mine; I have heard one
or two of them, and pretty rubbish they seemed. But the best of
the joke is, the fellow's finding fault with Piramus's fiddle--a
chap from the land of bagpipes finding fault with Piramus's fiddle!
Why, I'll back that fiddle against all the bagpipes in Scotland,
and Piramus against all the bagpipers; for though Piramus weighs
but ten stone, he shall flog a Scotchman of twenty."

"Scotchmen are never so fat as that," said I, "unless indeed, they
have been a long time pensioners of England. I say, Jasper, what
remarkable names your people have!"