Nor were incident and variety entirely absent from this
tranquil experience. He was one day astonished at being presented by
Bradley with copies of the latest English newspapers, procured from
Sacramento, and he equally astonished his host, after profusely thanking
him, by only listlessly glancing at their columns. He estopped a
proposed visit from one of his influential countrymen; in the absence
of his fair entertainers at their domestic duties, he extracted infinite
satisfaction from Foo-Yup, the Chinese servant, who was particularly
detached for his service. From his invalid coign of vantage at the
window he was observant of all that passed upon the veranda, that
al-fresco audience-room of The Lookout, and he was good-humoredly
conscious that a great many eccentric and peculiar visitors were
invariably dragged thither by Miss Macy, and goaded into characteristic
exhibition within sight and hearing of her guest, with a too evident
view, under the ostentatious excuse of extending his knowledge of
national character or mischievously shocking him.
"When you are strong enough to stand Captain Gashweiler's opinions of
the Established Church and Chinamen," said Miss Macy, after one of these
revelations, "I'll get Jim to bring him here, for really he swears
so outrageously that even in the broadest interests of international
understanding and good-will neither Mrs.
Pages:
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41