Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/207



down with Utis, but not with our usual company. The ladies and children had seceded to other tables. Their places were occupied by Hulmar, the two Siureds, who, as they often did, had escaped from the city for the day. Besides these, there were two zerdars on service in the village, and acquainted with Hulmar. On being in- troduced, I found that one of these gentlemen—for such they were, in the strictest sense of the word; though their duties were of somewhat humble character, according to present notions—came from Norway, the other from Central Asia. Yet in neither could I detect any thing in accent or manner to distinguish them from those born on the banks of the Hudson. They showed the same good-breeding, had manifestly enjoyed like educational advan- tages.

The scattering of families at these public dinners was, I saw, entirely a matter of choice. The ladies, having matters of mutual interest to discuss, were apt to congre- gate at tables by themselves. The men. partly for a like. reason, partly because, being this forsaken, they had no choice in the matter, were apt to get together too. There

199