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on my return, only two out of the whole throng ever 

 ventured to takej[ anything directly from my hands. 

 They were very proud of themselves for doing so, 

 and used to alight close to me, one on either side on 

 the top of the railings of a flight of steps leading 

 down from the verandah to a long terrace roof a 

 little below. There they would wait in dignified 

 composure, never condescending to join the noisy 

 scuffling of their companions. As a reward for their 

 civilised behaviour they were usually treated to a 

 biscuit each, in place of scraps of bread that were 

 thrown to the mob, and used to wait quite composedly 

 whilst their friends were struggling for the inferior 

 diet, in full confidence that their turn would arrive 

 with the end of the vulgar entertainment. So fully 

 persuaded were they that they would eventually be 

 treated with distinction that pieces of bread handed 

 to them were thrown away as beneath their notice. 

 It was hard to resist the temptation of occasionally 

 teasing them by affecting an intention of defrauding 

 them of their natural tribute. If the biscuits were 

 in evidence from the outset of the entertainment, 

 their minds were at rest, but if kept hidden, it was 

 amusing to note the anxiety that gradually set in as 



