safe at Constantinople again. He fought the dilemma long, but yielded at

last. It was a great deliverance. Perhaps the savage reader would like

a specimen of his style. I do not mean this term to be offensive. I

only use it because "the gentle reader" has been used so often that any

change from it can not but be refreshing:

"Save us and sanctify us, and finally, then,

See good provisions we enjoy while we journey to Jerusalem.

For so man proposes, which it is most true

And time will wait for none, nor for us too."

The sea has been unusually rough all day. However, we have had a

lively time of it, anyhow. We have had quite a run of visitors. The

Governor-General came, and we received him with a salute of nine guns.

He brought his family with him. I observed that carpets were spread

from the pier-head to his carriage for him to walk on, though I have

seen him walk there without any carpet when he was not on business. I

thought may be he had what the accidental insurance people might call an

extra-hazardous polish ("policy" joke, but not above mediocrity,) on his

boots, and wished to protect them, but I examined and could not see that

they were blacked any better than usual. It may have been that he had

forgotten his carpet, before, but he did not have it with him, anyhow.

He was an exceedingly pleasant old gentleman; we all liked him,

especially Blucher. When he went away, Blucher invited him to come

again and fetch his carpet along.

455

The Innocents Abroad