other in every language
they knew, none of which Mr. Peterkin could understand. It might be
Russian; it might be Arabic. It was easy to understand that they would
never consent to sit in the same carriage. Mr. Peterkin was in
despair; he had forgotten about the Russian war! What a mistake to
have invited the Turk!

[Illustration]

Quite a crowd collected on the sidewalk in front of the hotel. But the
French gentleman politely, but stiffly, invited the Russian to go with
him in the first carryall. Here was another difficulty. For the German
professor was quietly ensconced on the back seat! As soon as the
French gentleman put his foot on the step and saw him he addressed him
in such forcible language that the German professor got out of the
door the other side, and came round on the sidewalk and took him by
the collar. Certainly the German and French gentlemen could not be
put together, and more crowd collected!

[Illustration]

Agamemnon, however, had happily studied up the German word "Herr," and
he applied it to the German, inviting him by signs to take a seat in
the other carryall. The German consented to sit by the Turk, as they
neither of them could understand the other; and at last they started,
Mr. Peterkin with the Italian by his side, and the French and Russian
teachers behind, vociferating to each other in languages unknown to
Mr. Peterkin, while he feared they were not perfectly in harmony; so
he drove home as fast as possible. Agamemnon had a silent party. The
Spaniard by his side was a little moody, while the Turk and the German
behind did not utter a word.

[Illustration]

At last they reached the house, and were greeted by Mrs. Peterkin and
Elizabeth Eliza, Mrs. Peterkin with her llama lace shawl over her
shoulders, as a tribute to the Spanish teacher. Mr. Peterkin was
careful to take his party in first, and deposit them in a distant part
of the library, far from the Turk or the German, even putting the
Frenchman and Russian apart.

Solomon John found the Italian dictionary, and seated himself by his
Italian; Agamemnon, with the German dictionary, by the German. The
little boys took their copy of the "Arabian Nights" to the Turk. Mr.
Peterkin attempted to explain to the Russian that he had no Russian
dictionary, as he had hoped to learn Sanscrit of him, while Mrs.
Peterkin was trying to inform her teacher that she had no books in
Spanish. She got over all fears of the Inquisition, he looked so sa