She could repeat one or two pages
of phrases, and she was astonished to find how much she could
understand already of what the French teacher said to her; and he
assured her that when she went to Paris she could at least ask the
price of gloves, or of some other things she would need, and he
taught her, too, how to pronounce "gar?on," in calling for more.
Agamemnon thought that different members of the family might
make themselves familiar with different authors; the little boys
were already acquainted with "Mother Goose." Mr. Peterkin had
read the "Pickwick Papers," and Solomon John had actually seen
Mr. Longfellow getting into a horse-car.
Elizabeth Eliza suggested that they might ask the Turk to give
lectures upon the "Arabian Nights." Everybody else was planning
something of the sort, to "raise funds" for some purpose, and she
was sure they ought not to be behindhand. Mrs.
Peterkin approved of this. It would be excellent if they could raise
funds enough to pay for their own tickets to the carnival; then they
could go every night.
Elizabeth Eliza was uncertain. She thought it was usual to use the
funds for some object. Mr. Peterkin said that if they gained funds
enough they might arrange a booth of their own, and sit in it, and
take the carnival comfortably.
But Agamemnon reminded him that none of the family were
authors, and only authors had booths. Solomon John, indeed, had
once started upon writing a book, but he was not able to think of
anything to put in it, and nothing had occurred to him yet.
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