‘Many words of Norse are to be found in our vulgar sayings, Jasper; for example—in that particularly vulgar saying of ours, “Your mother is up,” [62b] there’s a noble Norse word; mother, there, meaning not the female who bore us, but rage and choler, as I discovered by reading the Sagas, Jasper.’
‘Lor’, brother! how book-learned you be.’
‘Indifferently so, Jasper. Then you think you might trust your wife with the duke?’
‘I think I could, brother, or even with yourself.’
‘Myself, Jasper! Oh, I never troubled my head about your wife; but I suppose there have been love affairs between gorgios and Romany chies. [63] Why novels are stuffed with such matters; and then even one of your own songs says so—the song which Ursula was singing the other afternoon.’
‘That is somewhat of an old song, brother, and is sung by the chies as a warning at our solemn festivals.’
‘Well! but there’s your sister-in-law, Ursula, herself, Jasper.’
‘Ursula, herself, brother?’
‘You were talking of my having her, Jasper.’
‘Well, brother, why didn’t you have her?’