Chapter XI. Maggie Tries to Run away from Her Shadow

own,addressingthewomeninaloudandscoldingtone,whichtheyansweredbyashoweroftreblesaucinesswhileablackcurranbarkinguptoMaggie,andthrewherintoatremorthatonlyfoundanewcauseinthecurseswithwhichtheyoungermancalledthedogoff,andgavehimarapwithagreatstickheheldinhishand. Maggiefeltthatitwasimpossiblesheshouldeverbequeenofthesepeople,orevercommunicatetothemamusingandusefulknowledge. BoththemennowseemedtobeinquiringaboutMaggie,fortheylookedather,andthetoneoftheconversationbecameofthatpacifickindwhichimpliescuriosityononesideandthepowerofsatisfyingitontheother.Atlasttheyoungerwomansaidinherpreviousdeferential,coaxingtone,— “Thisnicelittlelady’scometolivewithusaren’tyouglad?” “Ay,veryglad,”saidtheyoungerman,whowaslookingatMaggie’ssilverthimbleandothersmallmattersthathadbeentakenfromherpocket.Hereturnedthemallexceptthethimbletotheyoungerwoman,withsomeobservation,andsheimmediatelyrestoredthemtoMaggie’spocket,whilethemenseatedthemselves,andbegantoattackthecontentsofthekettle,—astewofmeatandpotatoes,—whichhadbeentakenoffthefireandturnedoutintoayellowplatter. MaggiebegantothinkthatTommustberightaboutthegypsiestheymustcertainlybethieves,unlessthemanmeanttoreturnherthimblebyandby.Shewouldwillinglyhavegivenittohim,forshewasnotatallattachedtoherthimblebuttheideathatshewasamongthievespreventedherfromfeelinganycomfortintherevivalofdeferenceandattentiontowardherallthieves,exceptRobinHood,werewickedpeople.Thewomensawshewasfrightened. “We’vegotnothingniceforaladytoeat,”saidtheoldwoman,inhercoaxingtone.“Andshe’ssohungry,sweetlittlelady.” “Here,mydear,tryifyoucaneatabito’this,”saidtheyoungerwoman,handingsomeofthestewonabrowndishwithanironspoontoMaggie,who,rememberingthattheoldwomanhadseemedangrywithherfornotlikingthebread-and-bacon,darednotrefusethestew,thoughfearhadchasedawayherappetite.Ifherfatherwouldbutcomebyinthegigandtakeherup!OrevenifJacktheGiantkiller,orMrGreatheart,orStGeorgewhoslewthedragononthehalf-pennies,wouldhappentopassthatway!ButMaggiethoughtwithasinkingheartthattheseheroeswereneverseenintheneighbourhoodofStOgg’snothingverywonderfulevercamethere. MaggieTulliver,youperceive,wasbynomeansthatwelltrained,well-informedyoungpersonthatasmallfemaleofeightorninenecessarilyisinthesedaysshehadonlybeentoschoolayearatStOgg’s,andhadsofewbooksthatshesometimesreadthedictionarysothatintravellingoverhersmallmindyouwouldhavefoundthemostunexpectedignoranceaswellasunexpectedknowledge.Shecouldhaveinformedyouthattherewassuchawordas“polygamy,”andbeingalsoacquaintedwith“polysyllable,”shehaddeducedtheconclusionthat“poly”mean“many”butshehadhadnoideathatgypsieswerenotwellsuppliedwithgroceries,andherthoughtsgenerallyweretheoddestmixtureofclear-eyedacumenandblinddreams. Herideasaboutthegypsieshadundergonearapidmodificationinthelastfiveminutes.Fromhavingconsideredthemveryrespectfulcompanions,amenabletoinstruction,shehadbeguntothinkthattheymeantperhapstokillherassoonasitwasdark,andcutupherbodyforgradualcookingthesuspicioncrossedherthatthefierce-eyedoldmanwasinfacttheDevil,whomightdropthattransparentdisguiseatanymoment,andturneitherintothegrinningblacksmith,orelseafiery-eyedmonsterwithdragon’swings.Itwasnousetryingtoeatthestew,andyetthethingshemostdreadedwastooffendthegypsies,bybetrayingherextremelyunfavourableopinionofthemandshewondered,withakeennessofinterestthatnotheologiancouldhaveexceeded,whether,iftheDevilwerereallypresent,hewouldknowherthoughts. “What!youdon’tlikethesmellofit,mydear,”saidtheyoungwoman,observingthatMaggiedidnoteventakeaspoonfulofthestew.“Tryabit,come.” “No,thankyou,”saidMaggie,summoningallherforceforadesperateeffort,andtryingtosmileinafriendlyway.“Ihaven’ttime,Ithinkitseemsgettingdarker.IthinkImustgohomenow,andcomeagainanotherday,andthenIcanbringyouabasketwithsomejam-tartsandthings.” Maggierosefromherseatasshethrewoutthisillusoryprospect,devoutlyhopingthatApollyonwasgulliblebutherhopesankwhentheoldgypsy-womansaid,“Stopabit,stopabit,littleladywe’lltakeyouhome,allsafe,whenwe’vedonesupperyoushallridehome,likealady.” Maggiesatdownagain,withlittlefaithinthispromise,thoughshepresentlysawthetallgirlputtingabridleonthedonkey,andthrowingacoupleofbagsonhisback. “Now,then,littlemissis,”saidtheyoungerman,rising,andleadingthedonkeyforward,“tell