Pennell, Joseph; Pennell, Joseph: Our sentimental journey through France and Italy (London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1893)

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not very fresh after a day’s ride through the wind,
over dry and dusty roads, and as we were
to dine in company with dignitaries of
State and Church, I said that first we
should like to make our toilet. “ Oh,
certainly,” said the waiter, “Voila!” and
he pointed to a small spicket and a
handkerchief of a towel at the dining-
room door.—With no more elaborate
preparation than these permitted, we
and took our seats at table with bishops,
officers, and statesmen in full dress.
It was as we expected. When we had eaten a
dinner worthy of the company, we were unwilling
to ride farther. We could and would not leave
Abbeville that night.—J-was silent over his
sponge-cakes and wine, speaking only once, to
consult me about the future tense of French verbs.
Then he called the waiter.-
“Is there a room yet ? ” I asked.
“Not yet, Madame” and he bowed his regrets.
“Well, then,” said J-, turning full upon him
with the speech he had been ten minutes in com-
posing, “ nous partirons pas si nous dormirons sur
la table!”
—Hitherto I had been his spokeswoman. The
consequence of his sudden outburst in French was
the


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