All in a garden fair; the simple story of three boys ... - University Library

ALL IN A GARDEN FAIR. 5
tlie strings, in the direction of a fallen trunk, on
wliich sat a man, thoughtfully regarding the
group, Avith his chui upon liis hand, and a
contemplative cigarette between his lips. He
rose to meet the girl, and took both her hands
in his and kissed her forehead. This was her
father.
He was a little man, though his daughter
looked as if she woukl be tall ;
yet not a very little
man. His narrow sloping shoulders—a feature
one may remark more often in Paris than in
London—his small head, and the neatness of
his figure made him look smaller than he was.
Small Engrlishmen— tliis man was a Frenchman
o
—are generally sturdy and broad-shouldered,
and nearly always grow fat when they reach
the forties. But tliis was a thm man. In ap-
pearance he w^as extremely neat ; he wore a
frock-coat buttoned tightly ; behind it was a
white waistco.it ;
he had a (lower in his button-
hole ; he wore a pink and white necktie, very
striking ;
his shirt-front and cuffs were perfect
his boots were highly polished ;
lie was five-and-
;