Page:Abroad with Mark Twain and Eugene Field.djvu/154

 AN ENGLISH LOVER OF KINGS AND A HATER

"Look at those fools going to pieces over old Doc Johnson—call themselves Americans and lick-spittle the toady who grabbed a pension from the German King of England that hated Americans, tried to flog us into obedience and called George Washington traitor and scoundrel."

Thus spoke Mark Twain in the Doctor Johnson room of the Cheshire Cheese, the Strand, where the old thoroughfare becomes "the Street of Ink" or Newspaper Row, and while we were enjoying the famous meat pie served there on certain days of the week.

"You are pleased to occupy Miss Evelyn's seat," whispered James the waiter, looking at Mark.

"Miss Evelyn—what?" demanded our friend.

James blushed. "Miss Evelyn, why—Miss Evelyn, the beautiful young American lady who came with the millionaire, Mr. Harry Thaw. While she was in London I always had to keep for her the seat under the Doctor's portrait on pie-day."

"Not because she loved Johnson better, but because she liked being in the limelight worse," commented Mark.

"Of course," he continued, "no Englishman misses doing the kowtow to Johnson when he's got half a chance, but of our own 150