{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMEGA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER ETA WITH PSILI AND PERISPOMENI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER LAMDA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER THETA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER MU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER KAPPA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ETA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}.

All the rest of the evening he kept us alive by a stock of infinite
drolleries. A scene of a dish of over-boiled tea at West Calder after a
meeting, would have made the fortune of a comedian.

I said that in the all-important quality of co-operation, ---- was only good
on condition of being in front. Mr. G. read him in the same sense.
Reminded of a mare he once had--admirable, provided you kept off spur,
curb, or whip; show her one of these things, and she would do nothing. Mr.
G. more of a judge of men than is commonly thought.

Told us of a Chinese despatch which came under his notice when he was at
the board of trade, and gave him food for reflection. A ship laden with
grain came to Canton. The administrator wrote to the central government at
Pekin to know whether the ship was to pay duty and land its cargo. The
answer was to the effect that the central government of the Flowery Land
was quite indifferent as a rule to the goings and comings of the
Barbarians; whether they brought a cargo or brought no cargo was a thing
of supreme unconcern. "But this cargo, you say, is food for the people.
There ought to be no obstacle to the entry of food for the people. So let
it in. Your Younger Brother commends himself to you, etc. etc."

_Friday, Jan. 8._--A quiet evening. We were all rather piano at the end of
an episode which had been thoroughly delightful. When Mr. G. bade me
good-night, he said with real feeling, "More sorry than I can say that
this is our last evening together at Biarritz." He is painfully grieved to
lose the sound of the sea in his ears.

_Saturday, Jan. 9._--Strolled about all the forenoon. "What a time of
blessed composure it has been," said Mr. G. with a heavy sigh. The distant
hills covered with snow, and the voice of the storm gradually swelling.
Still the savage fury of the sea was yet some hours off, so we had to
leave Biarritz without the spectacle of Atlantic rage at its fier