d,
and she tried to talk a little, using English words, but very slowly,
and altering the accent as far as she knew how. The Spaniard bowed,
looked gravely interested, and was very polite.

[Illustration]

Elizabeth Eliza, meanwhile, was trying her grammar phrases with the
Parisian. She found it easier to talk French than to understand him.
But he understood perfectly her sentences. She repeated one of her
vocabularies, and went on with, "_J'ai le livre._" "_As-tu le pain?_"
"_L'enfant a une poire._" He listened with great attention, and
replied slowly. Suddenly she started after making out one of his
sentences, and went to her mother to whisper, "They have made the
mistake you feared. They think they are invited to lunch! _He_ has
just been thanking me for our politeness in inviting them to
_dejeuner_,--that means breakfast!"

"They have not had their breakfast!" exclaimed Mrs. Peterkin, looking
at her Spaniard; "he does look hungry! What shall we do?"

[Illustration]

Elizabeth Eliza was consulting her father. What should they do? How
should they make them understand that they invited them to teach, not
lunch. Elizabeth Eliza begged Agamemnon to look out "_apprendre_" in
the dictionary. It must mean to teach. Alas, they found it means both
to teach and to learn! What should they do? The foreigners were now
sitting silent in their different corners. The Spaniard grew more and
more sallow. What if he should faint? The Frenchman was rolling up
each of his mustaches to a point as he gazed at the German. What if
the Russian should fight the Turk? What if the German should be
exasperated by the airs of the Parisian?

"We must give them something to eat," said Mr. Peterkin, in a low
tone. "It would calm them."

"If I only knew what they were used to eating," said Mrs. Peterkin.

Solomon John suggested that none of them knew what the others were
used to eating, and they might bring in anything.

Mrs. Peterkin hastened out with hospitable intents. Amanda could make
good coffee. Mr. Peterkin had suggested some American dish. Solomon
John sent a little boy for some olives.

It was not long before the coffee came in, and a dish of baked beans.
Next, some olives and a loaf of bread, and some boiled eggs, and some
bottles of beer. The effect was astonishing. Every man spoke his own
tongue, and fluently. Mrs. Peterkin poured out coffee for the
Spaniard, while he bowed to her. They all liked beer; they all liked
olives.