rstand 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. The Frenchman was fluent about
"les moeurs Americaines." Elizabeth Eliza supposed he alluded to their
not having set any table. The Turk smiled, the Russian was voluble. In
the midst of the clang of the different languages, just as Mr. Peterkin
was again repeating, under cover of the noise of many tongues, "How
shall we make them understand that we want them to teach?"--at this
very moment the door was flung open, and there came in the lady from
Philadelphia, that day arrived, her first call of the season!

She started back in terror at the tumult of so many different languages!
The family, with joy, rushed to meet her. All together they called
upon her to explain for them. Could she help them? Could she tell the
foreigners they wanted to take lessons? Lessons? They had no sooner
uttered the word than their guests all started up with faces beaming
with joy. It was the one English word they all knew! They had come to
Boston to give lessons! The Russian traveller had hoped to learn English
in this way. The thought pleased them more than the dejeuner.

Yes, gladly would