XL 



MORE ABOUT GILA. 



Besides coffee, Gila delighted in fruits and 

 sweets ; syrup on bread pleased her greatly, and 

 she always made her own choice of the dishes on 

 the table. She decided instantly what she wanted, 

 and if it was not given to her she would accept 

 bread or anything offered to her, but she held it 

 without eating till she saw what became of the 

 dish she had selected. Not until it was carried 

 past her, on its way to the kitchen, would she 

 make up her mind to be content with what she had. 



In the middle of the day it was the custom to 

 serve to the ladies of the family something cool- 

 ing, — lemon or orangeade, or a fruit drink. Of 

 the ladies Gila considered herself one, and the 

 moment the servant appeared she was on the 

 alert ; no lazy swinging then, no quiet napping 

 on her shelf ; she had her rights to look out for. 

 By long use she had come to regard the dregs 

 of the glasses as her share of the treat, and no 

 miser ever watched his gold more eagerly than 

 Gila watched the precious drink. If the ser- 

 vant forgot her, or the glasses were too nearly 

 emptied, she would scream and cry. 



