' to h-ask for a tab'e for six? That wou'n' be logical!"

When the waiter offered to add a smaller table and make one snug board
for six--"No," she said; "for feet and hands that be all right; but for
the _mind_, ah! You see, Mr. Chezter, M. De l'Isle he's also precizely
in the mi'l' of a moze overwhelming story of his own------"

"Hiztorical!" the aunts broke in. "Well-known! abbout old house! in
the _vieux carre_!"

"And," madame insisted, "'twould ruin that story, to us, to commenze to
hear it over, while same time 'twould ruin it to you to commenze to
hear it in the mi'l'. And beside', Aline, you are doubtlezz yet in the
mi'l' of your own story and--waiter! make there at that firz' window a
tab'e for two, and" [to the pair] "we'll run both storie' ad the same
time--if not three!"

"Like that circ'"--the aunts fell into tears of laughter. They touched
each other with finger-tips, cried, "Like that circuz of Barnum!" and
repeated to the De l'Isles and then to Aline, "Like that circuz of
Barnum an' Bailey!"

At the table for two, as the gumbo was uncovered and Chester asked how
it was made, "Ah!" said Aline, "for a veritable gumbo what you want
most is enthusiasm. The enthusiasm of both my aunts would not be too
much. And to tell how 'tis made you'd need no less, that would be a
story by itself, third ring of the circus."

"Then tell me, further, of '_grandpere_'"

"And grand'mere? Yes, I must, as I learned about them on papa's knee.
Mamma never saw them; they had been years gone when papa first knew
her. But Sidney I knew, when she was old and had seen all those
dreadful times; and, though she often would not tell me the story, she
would tell me what to ask papa; you see? You would have liked to talk
with Sidney about old buildings. Mr. Chester, I think it is not that
in New Orleans we are so picturesque, but that all the rest of our
country--in the cities--is so starved for the picturesque. Sidney
would have told you that story monsieur is telling now as well as all
the strange history of that old Hotel St. Louis. First, after the war
it was changed back from a hospital to a hotel. I think 'twas then
they called it Hotel Royal. Anyhow 'twas again very fine. Grandpere
and grand'mere were often in that salon where he had first--as they
say--spoken. Because, for one thing, there they met people of the
outside world without the local prejudices, you know?"

"At that time bitter and vindictive?"