Read "The Romany Rye" by George Borrow online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Preparations for the Fair -- The Last Lesson -- The Verb Siriel.
It might be about five in the evening, when I reached the gypsy encampment. Here I found Mr. Petulengro, Tawno Chikno, Sylvester, and others in a great bustle, clipping and trimming certain ponies and old horses which they had brought with them. On inquiring of Jasper the reason of their being so engaged, he informed me that they were getting the horses ready for a fair, which was to be held on the morrow, at a place some miles distant, at which they should endeavour to dispose of them, adding -- "Perhaps, brother, you will go with us, provided you have nothing better to do? " Not having any particular engagement, I assured him that I should have great pleasure in being of the party. It was agreed that we should start early on the following morning. Thereupon I descended into the dingle. Belle was sitting before the fire, at which the kettle was boiling. "Were you waiting for me? " I inquired. "Yes," said Belle, "I thought that you would come, and I waited for you."