the peterkin papers-第19章
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a family arrived for their annual visit。
There were still some delays。 Mr。 Peterkin was very anxious to obtain teachers who had been but a short time in this country。 He did not want to be tempted to talk any English with them。 He wanted the latest and freshest languages； and at last came home one day with a list of 〃brand…new foreigners。〃
They decided to borrow the Bromwicks' carryall to use； beside their own； for the first day； and Mr。 Peterkin and Agamemnon drove into town to bring all the teachers out。 One was a Russian gentleman； travelling； who came with no idea of giving lessons； but perhaps he would consent to do so。 He could not yet speak English。
Mr。 Peterkin had his card…case； and the cards of the several gentlemen who had recommended the different teachers； and he went with Agamemnon from hotel to hotel collecting them。 He found them all very polite； and ready to come； after the explanation by signs agreed upon。 The dictionaries had been forgotten； but Agamemnon had a directory； which looked the same； and seemed to satisfy the foreigners。
Mr。 Peterkin was obliged to content himself with the Russian instead of one who could teach Sanscrit； as there was no new teacher of that language lately arrived。
But there was an unexpected difficulty in getting the Russian gentleman into the same carriage with the teacher of Arabic； for he was a Turk； sitting with a fez on his head； on the back seat！ They glared at each other； and began to assail each other in every language they knew； none of which Mr。 Peterkin could understand。 It might be Russian； it might be Arabic。 It was easy to understand that they would never consent to sit in the same carriage。 Mr。 Peterkin was in despair； he had forgotten about the Russian war！ What a mistake to have invited the Turk！
Quite a crowd collected on the sidewalk in front of the hotel。 But the French gentleman politely； but stiffly； invited the Russian to go with him in the first carryall。 Here was another difficulty。 For the German professor was quietly ensconced on the back seat！ As soon as the French gentleman put his foot on the step and saw him； he addressed him in such forcible language that the German professor got out of the door the other side； and came round on the sidewalk； and took him by the collar。 Certainly the German and French gentlemen could not be put together； and more crowd collected！
Agamemnon； however； had happily studied up the German word 〃Herr；〃 and he applied it to the German； inviting him by signs to take a seat in the other carryall。 The German consented to sit by the Turk； as they neither of them could understand the other； and at last they started； Mr。 Peterkin with the Italian by his side； and the French and Russian teachers behind； vociferating to each other in languages unknown to Mr。 Peterkin； while he feared they were not perfectly in harmony； so he drove home as fast as possible。 Agamemnon had a silent party。 The Spaniard by his side was a little moody； while the Turk and the German behind did not utter a word。
At last they reached the house； and were greeted by Mrs。 Peterkin and Elizabeth Eliza； Mrs。 Peterkin with her llama lace shawl over her shoulders； as a tribute to the Spanish teacher。 Mr。 Peterkin was careful to take his party in first； and deposit them in a distant part of the library； far from the Turk or the German； even putting the Frenchman and Russian apart。
Solomon John found the Italian dictionary； and seated himself by his Italian； Agamemnon； with the German dictionary； by the German。 The little boys took their copy of the 〃Arabian Nights〃 to the Turk。 Mr。 Peterkin attempted to explain to the Russian that he had no Russian dictionary； as he had hoped to learn Sanscrit of him； while Mrs。 Peterkin was trying to inform her teacher that she had no books in Spanish。 She got over all fears of the Inquisition； he looked so sad； and she tried to talk a little； using English words； but very slowly； and altering the accent as far as she knew how。 The Spaniard bowed； looked gravely interested； and was very polite。
Elizabeth Eliza； meanwhile； was trying her grammar phrases with the Parisian。
She found it easier to talk French than to understand him。 But he understood perfectly her sentences。 She repeated one of her vocabularies； and went on with…〃J'ai le livre。〃 〃As…tu le pain？ 〃 〃L'enfant a une poire。〃 He listened with great attention； and replied slowly。 Suddenly she started after making out one of his sentences； and went to her mother to whisper； 〃They have made the mistake you feared。 They think they are invited to lunch！ He has just been thanking me for our politeness in inviting them to déje？ner；…that means breakfast！〃
〃They have not had their breakfast！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Peterkin； looking at her Spaniard； 〃he does look hungry！ What shall we do？〃
Elizabeth Eliza was consulting her father。 What should they do？ How should they make them understand 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 Américaines。〃 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 déje？ner。
Yes； gladly would they give lessons。 The Turk smiled at the idea。 The first step was taken。 The teachers knew they were expected to teach
MODERN IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PETERKINS'。 AGAMEMNON felt that it became necessary for him to choose a profession。 It was important on account of the little boys。 If he should make a trial of several different professions he could find out which would be the most likely to be successful； and it would then be easy to bring up the little boys in the right direction。
Elizabeth Eliza agreed with this。 She thought the family occasionally made mistakes； and had come near disgracing themselves。 Now was their chance to avoid this in future by giving the little boys a proper education。
Solomon John was almost determined to become a doctor。 From ear
