When a man dies, he is cast into the earth, and his wife and child sorrow over him. If he has neither wife nor child, then his father and mother, I suppose; and if he is quite alone in the world, why, then, he is cast into the earth, and there is an end of the matter.’
‘And do you think that is the end of a man?’
‘There’s an end of him, brother, more’s the pity.’
‘Why do you say so?’
‘Life is sweet, brother.’
‘Do you think so?’
‘Think so! There’s night and day, brother, both sweet things; sun, moon, and stars, brother, all sweet things; there’s likewise the wind on the heath. Life is very sweet, brother; who would wish to die?’
‘I would wish to die—’
‘You talk like a gorgio—which is the same as talking like a fool—were you a Rommany Chal you would talk wiser. Wish to die, indeed! A Rommany Chal would wish to live for ever!’
‘In sickness, Jasper?’