Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/146

126 harnessed the refractory mules, (some of which, perhaps, were of opinion, like myself, that they had not had their due portion of rest,) and, last and not least, on account of the evident, though suppressed, impatience of Don Simon, at my laziness. He was traversing up and down the chamber with a firm step and hurried air: his hands in his pockets, without a cigar in his mouth, alternately whistling or humming a stave of one of his favourite airs. I had just made up my mind to throw off the bed clothes and rise, whilst I was to all appearance fast asleep; when, as he was passing close to my bed-side, his foot happened, fortunately, to catch in a part of them; and as he was walking very quick, drew them all off for me. He was about to apologize for what he had done, when I assured him there was no necessity for his doing so, for I had just determined to get up. He seemed pleased at the accidental coincidence of the affair, and thrusting his hand into the inner pocket of his jacket for