to Lucy, making, like most foreign observers, a general inference from her individual experience, "with all American children—there is no government in this country nowhere—the people do as they please, and the very little children do as they please. You will have the very great advantage to eat with me."
"Great advantage, indeed!" interposed again the aforesaid young speaker. "Adéle will take the best, and leave you the rest—that was the way she served little Judy Phealan."
"Mademoiselle Ophelia, vous êtes trés desagreáble ce matin; je me plaindrai de vous á votre maman. Miss Ophelia, you are very disagreeable this morning; I will complain of you to your mother."
"And mamma will complain to me, and I will complain to papa, and papa will complain back to mamma," retorted the little girl, laughing.
"I wish you to pay no attention to miss, because her mamma wishes her to say nothing in English, and it is as if she spoke not a word."
"Then you need not answer what I say, Adéle." Adéle muttered a "Mon Dieu!" between her teeth, and proceeded: "You will keep our room very nice—I like very pretty order."
"Yes, when you have others to take the trouble of it, Adéle."
"Sacre! And in very hot days I wish you to walk out with the young ladies, because it is very disfavourable to my health."
"And your complexion, Adéle—don't you remember the day your colour ran down on to your frill?"
Adéle's colour now at least was natural. "It is
