"Strike me blue!" he exclaimed. "It's the bang-up young gent in the
jerry 'at 'as left a home luxoorious to see the world and l'arn to be
a man!"
"That very same!" said I.
"Why, then, Lord love me, here's j'y again!" cried he, grasping my
hand with a heartiness there was no mistaking. "But how come you
hereabouts and along of Anna, too? And how comes Anna free o' the Folk
at last and along wi' a young _gorgio_ gent wi' nothing flash
about him? And what's come o' your bang-up duds? And I'd like to
know--but wait a bit! Are ye hungry?"
"We are!" answered Diana.
"Good!" exclaimed the Tinker. "Then come your ways to my fire,
children; I've a couple o' rabbits in the pot wi' a lump o' pork and
an onion or so for comp'ny, which is a supper fit for any king."
"You are very kind, Mr. Jarvis," said I, a little awkwardly, "but I
ought to tell you that I am as poor as I look--I haven't one penny--"
"Well, that don't make me speechless wi' surprise, young sir; money
has a habit o' going, 'specially when you're young, but a full
stomach's better than a full purse, I think."
"But," said I, "having no money, how may I repay your hospitality?"
"By eating hearty! And as for money, Lord love my eyes and limbs--who
wants your money?"
"There, there, Jerry--don't get peppery!" said Diana soothingly.
"Peregrine don't understand the likes of us, yet."
"Why no, Ann, I was forgetting the poor, misfort'nate young gent has
never known the blessings of hardship, never suffered, never lacked
for anything all his days and consequently knows nothing o' true
hospitality or the brotherhood o' the roadside--how should he?"
"Then you shall teach me, if you will, Mr.
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