"
"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."
"Your sister does not seem to stand much in awe of Jasper
Petulengro, Ursula."
"Let the matters of my sister and Jasper Petulengro alone, brother;
you must travel in their company some time before you can
understand them; they are a strange two, up to all kind of
chaffing: but two more regular Romans don't breathe, and I'll tell
you, for your instruction, that there isn't a better mare-breaker
in England than Jasper Petulengro, if you can manage Miss Isopel
Berners as well as--"
"Isopel Berners," said I, "how came you to think of her?"
"How should I but think of her, brother, living as she does with
you in Mumper's dingle, and travelling about with you; you will
have, brother, more difficulty to manage her, than Jasper has to
manage my sister Pakomovna.
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