Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/143

 a reply; still gazing, for a few seconds, regardless of our request, she rapturously exclaimed, "Mon Dieu, ce sont des Anglois," immediately offering us chairs. Somewhat disconcerted at this unexpected reception, we again asked for gin, to which she replied, "Take seats, and you shall have whatever my house can afford." We thanked her for the attention, reiterating our request; she insisted we should partake of her fare, assuring us that not a soul should enter the house during our stay, if we would but sit down; we again refused, observing, that, being conscripts, ordered into garrison at Blankenberg, we were fearful of punishment should we not arrive there that night according to orders; she burst into a loud laugh, running to bar the door and window shutters, at the same time ordering the servant to fry more ham and eggs; we assured her it was useless, as we had already taken supper at Bruges, and that we dare not stay, adding, it was a pretty compliment to us Frenchmen to call us English; she jocosely replied, "Well, then, you are not English, but it is so