down comfortably and be
English while I study her as a type, but of course I mustn't. Sometimes
I wish I could retire from the world for a season and do what I like,
'surrounded by the general comfort of being thought mad.'

An elegant, irreproachable, high-minded model of dignity and reserve has
just knocked and inquired what we will have for dinner. It is very
embarrassing to give orders to a person who looks like a Justice of the
Supreme Court, but I said languidly:

'What would you suggest?'

'How would you like a clear soup, a good spring soup, to begin with,
miss?'

'Very much.'

'And a bit of turbot next, miss, with anchovy sauce?'

'Yes, turbot, by all means,' I said, my mouth watering at the word.

'And what else, miss? Would you enjoy a young duckling, miss, with new
potatoes and green peas?'

'Just the thing; and for dessert--' I couldn't think what I ought to
order next in England, but the high-minded model coughed apologetically,
and, correcting my language, said:

'I was thinking you might like gooseberry-tart and cream for a sweet,
miss.'

Oh that I could have vented my New World enthusiasm in a sigh of delight
as I heard those intoxicating words, heretofore met only in English
novels!

'Ye--es,' I said hesitatingly, though I was palpitating with joy, 'I
fancy we should like gooseberry-tart' (here a bright idea entered my
mind); 'and perhaps, in case my aunt doesn't care for the
gooseberry-tart, you might bring a lemon-squash, please.'

Now, I had never met a lemon-squash personally, but I had often heard of
it, and wished to show my familiarity with British culinary art.

'It would 'ardly be a substitute for gooseberry-tart, miss; but shall I
bring _one_ lemon-squash, miss?'

'Oh, as to that, it doesn't matter,' I said haughtily; 'bring a
sufficient number for two persons.'

* * * * *

Aunt Celia came home in the highest feather. She had twice been mistaken
for an Englishwoman. She said she thought that lemon-squash was a
drink; I thought, of course, it was a pie; but we shall find out at
dinner, for, as I said, I ordered a sufficient number for two persons,
and the head-waiter is not a personage who will let Transatlantic
ignorance remain uninstructed.

At four o'clock we attended evensong at the cathedral. I shall not say
what I felt when the white-surpliced boy choir entered, winding down
those vaulted aisles, or when I heard for the first time tha