iv PREFACE

the idea that I was about to enjoy an hour’s peace after the
dreadful noise which had deafened me in the drawing-room.

IT don’t know exactly how it was, but at the end of about
ten minutes I fell fast asleep.

-I cannot say how long I had thus lost all knowledge of
what was passing around, when I was suddenly aroused by
loud peals of laughter. I opened my eyes in terror, and
saw nothing but the beautifully-painted ceiling over my
head. Then I tried to get up; but the attempt was useless,
for I was fastened to my chair as firmly as Gulliver was on
the shore of Lilliput.

I immediately understood in what a scrape I had got
myself: I had been surprised in the enemy’s country, and
was a prisoner of war.

The best thing for me to do in such a case was to put a
good face upon the matter, and treat for my liberty.

My first proposal was to take my conquerors the very
next morning to Farrance’s, and treat them to anything they
liked; but, unhappily, the moment was not well chosen for
such an offer: I was addressing myself to an audience already
well stuffed with tarts, and whose hands were filled with
patties.

My proposal was therefore refused in plain terms.

I then offered to take the entire party to Vauxhall next
evening, and amuse them with the exhibition of fire-works.

This proposal was well received by the little boys; but
the little girls would not listen to it, because they were
dreadfully afraid of fire-works: they could not endure the
noise of the crackers, and the smell of the gunpowder an-
noyed them.

I was about to make a third offer, when I heard a sweet
little musical voice whispering in the ears of a companion