He shares Artemas Ward's tastes, who said, you may remember, that he liked little girls--big ones too." A maid appeared with a tray of eatables, and presently another with a tray on which were glasses and a bottle of Pommery _sec._ "Miss Clara's compliments," she said.
"What do you think now ?" asked Mrs.Benson, laughing.
"Distinctly a distinction, I should say," he replied.
"Das ist nicht so schlecht," grunted Herr Schlitz as he put half a _pate_ into his mouth, "bot I vould brefer beer." "The music has been a great treat to me," remarked John.

"I have heard nothing of the sort for two years." "You have quite contributed your share of the entertainment," said Mrs.
Benson.
"You and I together," he responded, smiling.
"You have got a be-oodifool woice," said Herr Schlitz, speaking with a mouthful of salad, "und you zing ligh a moosician, und you bronounce your vorts very goot." "Thank you," said John.
After supper there was more singing in the drawing room, but it was not of a very classical order.

Something short and taking for violin and piano was followed by an announcement from Herr Schlitz.
"I zing you a zong," he said.

The worthy man "breferred beer," but had, perhaps, found the wine quicker in effect, and in a tremendous bass voice he roared out, Im tiefen Keller sitz' ich hier, auf einem Fass voll Reben, which, if not wholly understood by the audience, had some of its purport conveyed by the threefold repetition of "trinke" at the end of each verse.

Then a deputation waited upon John, to ask in behalf of the girls and boys if he knew and could sing Solomon Levi.
"Yes," he said, sitting down at the piano, "if you'll all sing with me," and it came to pass that that classic, followed by Bring Back my Bonnie to Me, Paddy Duffy's Cart, There's Music in the Air, and sundry other ditties dear to all hearts, was given by "the full strength of the company" with such enthusiasm that even Mr.Fairman was moved to join in with his violin; and when the Soldier's Farewell was given, Herr Schlitz would have sung the windows out of their frames had they not been open.
Altogether, the evening's programme was brought to an end with a grand climax.
"Thank you very much," said John as he said good night to Mrs.Verjoos.
"I don't know when I have enjoyed an evening so much." "Thank _you_ very much," she returned graciously.