“My temptress, it is delicious! I thank thee for introducing me to the acquaintance of the periwink.” “I knew you would like it,” said Anna. “More s’imp? more s’imp!” called out little Lenny, for whom his mamma could not peel fast enough. “Are they good also, Master Lenny?” smiled Dick, helping himself to one. “Day dood. Mate Nannan peel for woo, Dit,” answered the little Turk, who evidently thought that women were made to wait on men and—boys. “They have an exquisite flavor! They are as fine, with a difference, as the periwinkle itself. Master Lenny, your humble servant. I’m bound to you for making me acquainted with the shrimp. I don’t know which of these two dainties I like the best. After this I can believe in a man being in love with two——” “Dishes at the same time,” interjected Anna. “Ladies at the same time,” concluded Dick. “More s’imps! More s’imps! Mate Pina peel!” vociferated the little despot, for whom his mamma could not keep up the supply. And Pina was called to help; but new hands are awkward at the shrimp peeling business; and as Pina took a minute to peel a delicate morsel that Master Lenny swallowed in a second, he soon called out again: “More s’imps! more s’imps! Mate Nannan peel too!” Anna good-naturedly complied. But even with her help the demand continued to be greater than the supply. And the tiny autocrat, looking around and seeing no more female slaves at hand, called out: “More s’imps! more s’imps! And make _Dit_ peel.” And Dick obediently sacrificed his periwinkles, and cheerfully betook himself to the service of the liliputian tyrant. But still the demand exceeded the supply, for these vassals were awkward at the work; so, after glancing dubiously at his venerable relative, Master Leonard sang out lustily: “More s’imps! more s’imps! And mate Untle Granpa peel!” And the veteran soldier of hard-won fields, the leader of tens of thousands, smiled submissively and obeyed the baby boy. But there is an end to all things, even to infant despotism, and so when the three-quarters past nine struck, the party rose from the table, for they had but fifteen minutes to catch the train in. They hurried on their outer garments and hastened into the hired fly and were driven rapidly to the station. Lively and well-lighted, but by no means noisy or confused was the scene. There was a very long and heavy train of carriages, for it carried the “three estates,” but so orderly were all the arrangements, so exact were the regulations, so well trained the guards and porters, so vigilant the police, that all went smoothly and surely as clock-work.