"They assemble at meal times, I fancy," replied Mrs. Storey; "and there is the smoke of their cookery, you see." The thin blue smoke was curling up around the trunk of a tree, in the hollow formed by whose roots was kindled the fire, which Trinity now hastened to feed with sticks from the hedges. She peeped into the pot, which steamed from under the three poles that supported it, and proceeded to stir the mess with a forked stick, affording glimpses to her visiters of a sort of meat whose shape and colour were new to them. On their inquiring what the stew was made of, Trinity pointed to a skin which lay in the ditch, and which was undeniably that of a brown dog. Matilda expressed her horror, and the child looked up surprised, observing, "Baba says the same hand made the dog and the sheep." "Who is Baba?" "Her father," replied Elizabeth. "Baba means Father. Where did you get this dog, Trinity? I hope it is not stolen." Trinity believed Uriah had found it under the hedge. She took up the head, which was left with the skin, and showed by the teeth that the animal must have been very old. "Dear me! I suppose you pick up all the dead animals that lie about the country," cried Elizabeth. "Bebee says that beasts that have died by the hand of God are better than those that have died by the hand of man," replied Trinity. A low moan issued from the tent at this moment, which seemed to strike the child with surprise and terror: she sprang upon her feet, and looked eagerly towards the curtain which hung over the entrance, but did not venture to go in. When Matilda inquired if any one within was sick, the girl shook her head, replying, "No sickness, but there must be death. That is the death moan." Mrs. Storey instantly proceeded to the tent, thinking that assistance might be wanted; and, lifting up the awning, she saw Mrs. Draper standing beside the body of a very old woman, which was propped up in a sitting posture, and composed in attitude and countenance. Mrs. Draper's countenance was also calm, as she folded her arms in her red cloak, and rocked herself backwards and forwards, giving the death moan at intervals. After a certain number of repetitions, she turned to the ladies, and, in a voice of indifference, asked their business, glancing with a smile towards their palms. Elizabeth did not seem to share Matilda's surprise at this transition from one mood to another, but returned Mrs. Draper's smile, not ungloving her hand, but pointing out divers blemishes in the gloves she wore, and remarking, "What shocking gloves these are! I used to get beauties of gloves at Brighton. I wish I could get such here." "We are only carriers," observed the gipsy. "You must walk a mile eastward to find a batman's wife."