Why am I not permitted to recount
all the little anecdotes of that thrice happy age, at the recollection
of whose joys I even tremble with delight? Five or six particularly-
let us compromise the matter- I will give up five, but then I must
have one, and only one, provided I may draw it out to its utmost
length, in order to prolong my satisfaction.
If I only sought yours, I should choose that of Miss Lambercier's
backside, which, by an unlucky fall at the bottom of the meadow, was
exposed to the view of the King of Sardinia, who happened to be
passing by; but that of the walnut tree on the terrace is more amusing
to me, since here I was an actor, whereas, in the above-mentioned
scene I was only a spectator, and I must confess I see nothing that
should occasion risibility in an accident, which, however laughable in
itself, alarmed me for a person I loved as a mother, or perhaps
something more.
Ye curious readers, whose expectations are already on the stretch
for the noble history of the terrace, listen to the tragedy, and
abstain from trembling, if you can, at the horrible catastrophe.
At the outside of the courtyard door, on the left hand, was a
terrace; here they often sat after dinner; but it was subject to one
inconvenience, being too much exposed to the rays of the sun; to
obviate this defect, Mr. Lambercier had a walnut tree set there, the
planting of which was attended with great solemnity. The two
boarders were godfathers, and while the earth was replacing round
the root, each held the tree with one hand, singing songs of
triumph.
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