At last I summoned courage to say, 'I fear, madam, I am an intruder here. I have certainly been shown into the wrong room.' 'It is, it is my own, my only daughter, my Cherubina!' cried she, with a tremendous voice. 'Come to my maternal arms, thou living picture of the departed Theodore!' 'Why, ma'am,' said I, 'I would with great pleasure, but I am afraid--Oh, madam, indeed, indeed, I am quite sure you cannot be my mother!' 'Why not, thou unnatural girl?' cried she. 'Because, madam,' answered I, 'my mother was of a thin habit; as her portrait proves.' {43} 'And so I was once,' said she. 'This deplorable plumpness is owing to want of exercise. But I thank the Gods I am as pale as ever.' 'Heavens! no,' cried I. 'Your face, pardon me, is a rich scarlet.' 'And is this our tender meeting?' cried she. 'To disown me, to throw my fat in my teeth, to violate the lilies of my skin with a dash of scarlet? Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle! Tell me, girl, will you embrace me, or will you not?' 'Indeed, madam,' answered I, 'I will presently.' 'Presently!' 'Yes, depend upon it I will. Only let me get over the first shock.' 'Shock!' Dreading her violence, and feeling myself bound to do the duties of a daughter, I kneeled at her feet, and said: 'Ever respected, ever venerable author of my being, I beg thy maternal blessing!' My mother raised me from the ground, and hugged me to her heart, with such cruel vigor, that, almost crushed, I cried out stoutly, and struggled for release. 'And now,' said she, relaxing her grasp, 'let me tell you of my sufferings. Ten long years I have eaten nothing but bread. Oh, ye favorite pullets, oh, ye inimitable tit-bits, shall I never, never taste you more? It was but last night, that maddened by hunger, methought I beheld the Genius of Dinner in my dreams. His mantle was laced with silver eels, and his locks were dropping with soups. He had a crown of golden fishes upon his head, and pheasants' wings at his shoulders. A flight of little tartlets fluttered about him, and the sky rained down comfits. As I gazed on him, he vanished in a sigh, that was impregnated with the fumes of brandy. Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle.' I stood shuddering, and hating her more and more every moment. 'Pretty companion of my confinement!' cried she, apostrophizing an enormous toad which she pulled out of her bosom 'dear, spotted fondling, thou, next to my Cherubina, art worthy of my love. Embrace each other, my friends.' And she put the hideous pet into my hand. I screamed and dropped it. 'Oh!' cried I, in a passion of despair, 'what madness possessed me to undertake this execrable enterprise!' and I began beating with my hand against the door. 'Do you want to leave your poor mother?' said she in a whimpering tone. 'Oh! I am so frightened!' cried I.