‘Yes, sister, eat.’

’See, brother, I do; now, brother, eat, pretty brother, gray-haired brother.’

‘I am not hungry.’

’Not hungry! well, what then—­what has being hungry to do with the matter?  It is my grandbebee’s cake which was sent because you were kind to the poor person’s child; eat, brother, eat, and we shall be like the children in the wood that the gorgios speak of.’

‘The children in the wood had nothing to eat.’

‘Yes, they had hips and haws; we have better.  Eat, brother.’

‘See, sister, I do,’ and I ate a piece of the cake.

‘Well, brother, how do you like it?’ said the girl, looking fixedly at me.

’It is very rich and sweet, and yet there is something strange about it; I don’t think I shall eat any more.’

’Fie, brother, fie, to find fault with the poor person’s cake; see, I have nearly eaten mine.’

‘That’s a pretty little dog.’

‘Is it not, brother? that’s my juggal, my little sister, as I call her.’

‘Come here, juggal,’ said I to the animal.

‘What do you want with my juggal?’ said the girl.

‘Only to give her a piece of cake,’ said I, offering the dog a piece which I had just broken off.

‘What do you mean?’ said the girl, snatching the dog away; ’my grandbebee’s cake is not for dogs.’

‘Why, I just now saw you give the animal a piece of yours.’

’You lie, brother, you saw no such thing; but I see how it is, you wish to affront the poor person’s child.  I shall go to my house.’

’Keep still, and don’t be angry; see, I have eaten the piece which I offered the dog.  I meant no offence.  It is a sweet cake after all.’

’Isn’t it, brother?  I am glad you like it.  Offence, brother, no offence at all!  I am so glad you like my grandbebee’s cake, but she will be wanting me at home.  Eat one piece more of grandbebee’s cake, and I will go.’

‘I am not hungry, I will put the rest by.’

‘One piece more before I go, handsome brother, gray-haired brother.’

’I will not eat any more, I have already eaten more than I wished to oblige you; if you must go, good-day to you.’

The girl rose upon her feet, looked hard at me, then at the remainder of the cake which I held in my hand, and then at me again, and then stood for a moment or two, as if in deep thought; presently an air of satisfaction came over her countenance, she smiled and said, ’Well, brother, well, do as you please, I merely wished you to eat because you have been so kind to the poor person’s child.  She loves you so, that she could have wished to have seen you eat it all; good-bye, brother, I daresay when I am gone you will eat some more of it, and if you don’t, I daresay you have eaten enough to—­to—­show your love for us.  After all it was a poor person’s cake, a Rommany manricli, and all you gorgios are somewhat gorgious.  Farewell, brother, pretty brother, gray-haired brother.  Come, juggal.’