The Disowned, Volume 1.

ecurely l

eam of

p etern

e sit and

e to Sir Cl

gypsy race, were grouped seven or eight persons, upon whose swarthy and strong countenances the irregular and fitful flame cast a picturesque and not unbecoming glow. All of these, with th

ptly, and turned an eye, in which menace vainly struggled with good-humour, upon each of his brethren, as they submissively bowed to him and his protege, and poured forth a profusion of promises, to which their admonitor did not even condescend to listen. He threw off his

s," growled the old hag, who claimed the usual privilege of

ent, and ask its inhabitants, in my name, to come here and sup; b

g, instantly started forth to obey) the gypsy stretched himself at full length by the youth's side, and began

s, the rude but not unpicturesque tent, the dark still woods on either side, with the deep and cloudless skies above, as the stars broke forth one b

unlike those of the tribe in general, rather calm than brilliant; the complexion, though sun-burnt, was not swarthy, and the face was carefully and cleanly shaved, so as to give all due advantage of contrast to the brown luxuriant locks which fell rather in flakes than curls, on either side of the healthful and manly cheeks. In age, he was about thirty-five, and, though his air and mien

of the youth presented a st

iguring fashions of the day, was of a deep auburn, which was rapidly becoming of a more chestnut hue, and curled in short close curls from the nape of the neck to the commencement of a forehead singularly white and high. His brows finely and lightly pencilled, and his long lashes of the darkest dye, gave a deeper and perhaps softer shade than they otherwise would have w

ich defied in their exulting pride the heaviness of sorrow and the harassments of time. It was a face that, while it filled you with some melancholy foreboding of the changes and chances which must, in the inevitable course of fate, cloud the openness of the unwrinkled brow, and soberize the fire of the daring and restless eye, instilled also within you some assurance of triumph, and some omen of success,-a vague but powerfu

on the sinewy and agile frame of his young guest, "well, sir, how fares your appetite? Ol

nt already the grand secret of making in every situation a fema

ster?" said the old cr

enough to reconcile ma

nswered t

of the best, for the brewer himself drank some of the same sort but two hours before I nimm'd them. Come, stump, my cull, make yourself wings. Ho, Dame Bingo, is not that pot of thine seething yet? Ah, my young gentleman, you commence betimes; so much the better; if love's a summer's day, we all know how early a summer morning begins," added the jovial Egyptian in a lower voice (feeling perhaps that he was only understood by himself), as he gazed complacently on the youth, who, with that happy facility of making himself everywhere at home so uncommon to his countrymen, was already paying compliments suited to their understanding to two fair daughters of the tribe who had entered with the new-co

ch replied to his open admiration and profuse flattery; but still there was nothing exclusive in his attentions; perhaps an ignorance of the customs of his entertainers,

would you have us change our coarse fare and our simple tents, our vigorous limbs and free hearts, for the meagre board

which, if affected, was an exquisite counterfei

host, and all the gang echoed t

iful; ale, and that strong; women, and tho

no, not even a tax; who else in this kingdom

d though, at moments, something in the guest's eye and lip might have seemed, to a very shrewd observer, a little wandering and abse

ievements in theft; not a viand they had fed on but had its appropriate legend; even the old rabbit, which had been as tough as old rabbit can well be, had not been h

trates] upon us if we keep it up much longer. What, ho, Mim, are you still gabbling at the foot of the table when your betters are talking? As sure as my name's King Cole, I'll choke you with your own rabbit skin, if you don'

King Cole, began the following song, the chorus of which was chanted in full diapason by the

YPSY'

hall, and the st

to his bil

bound to an a

is the hous

toil; yet we gle

as its r

we rove, we f

at the mum

he king to h

traw for the li

for the cu

s neighbour shall

as sure of

he king to h

awe of the harman'

ill avoid the

is as free of t

f the twisting

he king to h

is sweet to

h one has so

ld find that we

that has co

e king to hi

e ceased from o

er [door] wil

all be on the

ps the glor

OR

s hall, and the s

to his bil

bound to an a

is the hous

ness; as for his host, that curious personage took a lusty and prominent part in the chorus; nor did the old woods refuse t

he tent, and the crew to whom the awning belonged began to settle themselves to rest; while those who owned the other encampment marched forth, with King Cole at their head. Leaning with

not above all laws? Are we not the most despotic of kings? Nay, more than the kings of earth, are we not the kings of Fair

nt groves!

irth's be

ure C

pitch th

ese meads, these roc

ter Mim, came suddenly, by an unexpected and picturesque opening in the trees, upon one of those itinerant vehicles termed caravans, he ascended the few steps which led to the entrance, opened the

be found wild in the woods:" then changing his tone, he said, "come, put some fresh straw in the corner, this stra

l a sheet of singularly snowy hue, made her guest some apology for the badness of his lodging; this King Cole interrupted by a most elaborately noisy yawn and a declaration of extreme sleepiness. "Now, Lucy, let us leave the gentlem

always been treasures were several volumes, ranged in comely shelves, fenced with wirework, on either side of the fireplace. "Courage," thought he, as he stretched himself on his humble couch, "my