He is now taking his dues and his yearly oaths from his tenants, and he would not think it becoming, if the governor himself were to visit him, to pause in the middle of so august a ceremony.

But if it would interest you, you may step this way and wait until he has finished.

You, madame, I will take at once to my mother, if you will be so kind as to follow me." The sight was, to the Americans at least, a novel one.

A triple row of men, women, and children were standing round in a semicircle, the men rough and sunburned, the women homely and clean, with white caps upon their heads, the children open-mouthed and round-eyed, awed into an unusual quiet by the reverent bearing of their elders.

In the centre, on his high-backed carved chair, there sat an elderly man very stiff and erect, with an exceedingly solemn face.