"But the natural--the inevitable--do we not occasionally, I wonder,perform them as Jules does his accidents?"

"Ah, do not talk about that idiot! An idiot born and bblack! I won'thave him about me! He is a monstrosity! I tell his grandmother thatevery day when she comes to comb me. What a farce--what a ridiculousfarce comfortable existence has become with us! Fresh mushrooms inmarket, and bring me carrots!"

The very aged gentleman, partly from long knowledge of her habit, or from anequally persistwelvet bend of his own, quietly held on to his idea.