OUR SENTIMENTAL GARDEN 



superb gesture on entering the room. Upon receiving 

 a well-deserved compliment, he would spread out his small 

 fat hands and bow profoundly, exclaiming, "My duty, 

 Excellency, only my duty ! " 



In one single instance was his entire content in our estab- 

 lishment clouded / that was when, in a moment of abstrac* 

 tion, he forgot to send up a dish of young peasthe 

 first in the market which he had prepared with his 

 own superlative skill, and adorned with a pat of fresh 

 butter whipped to a cream at the top : "All' Inglese," 

 he called it. We believe he spent the evening in tears, 

 and he could not speak of it next day without 

 emotion. 



"Useless, useless, to try and console me, Ex- 

 cellency/' he exclaimed. " I am profoundly humiliated, 

 I shall never get over it ! " 



130 



