POLITE DIALOGUES.
We all quizzed O’Neill unmercifully about the Civilized Lady, and read some dialogues with immense satisfaction. So uproarious, indeed, did the fun become at last, that our neighbours on the stair came trooping in. Three of them were Cape-students, hard-working medicals, whom we never heard speaking Dutch, though we were well aware they must have known it. Like the others, they insisted on a full explanation of the tumult, and we showed them “Boyton”. They didn’t mind so much about the Civilized Lady; but when they turned to the Polite Dialogues at the end, a kind of shudder seemed to pass through them, as if they had got an electric shock—till finally they dropped the book and screamed with delight.
“Why! that’s nothing so very odd”, said O’Neill, looking hurt. “I have often used lots of those phrases.” Picking up the dishevelled leaves from the floor, he ran his eye down a page or two and said: “Yes, of course. These things are all right: A bit stiff and bookish, perhaps; but correct, quite correct. You fellows needn’t be so excited over nothing.”
“Read us some!” clamoured the men from the Cape. “Read us some of the dialogues you imitated. Go on! Read!”
HOW TO BUY A CASTOR.
“Oh!” said O’Neill, “almost any one of these conversations about common things is good enough. Here, for instance.” And he took the book in his hand and walked about the room, giving us first the English—then the Dutch.
| “TOUCHING BUYING AND SELLING. | WEGENS KOOPEN EN VERKOOPEN. |
| Have you any fine hats? | Hebt gij mooije hoeden? |
| This is one of the finest in the Country. | Daar is een van de fraaiste in ’t land. |
| Yes, Sir; this is a dreadfully nice one. | Ja, hoedemaker; deze tenminste is ijsselijk mooi. |
| Just come close to the fire, Sir; and examine that hat narrowly. | Eilieve! kruip bij het vuur, mijnheer; en bezie dien hoed eens wel.” |
“That conversation,” said the Professor, “must have been of immense help to you now in modern Holland?”
“Hm”—replied Jack doubtfully.
“O’Neill,” said I; “Stop! You’re making that out of your head. That stuff’s never in any book.”