And then came those delicious desserts followed by fruits and nuts which
had been especially kept as the crown of the feast to accompany the final
coffee-cup. Again the afternoon was spent in the garden, while the babies
slept in the shade under the eye of the respective mothers.
The most solemn moment of our visit was when we had to make our report to
our grandparents as to our progress in school. I remember especially one
year when Rosa was the first in her class, and Santiago our tall cousin had
taken the first prize in the great school of "Louis the Great," from which
each year he carried new laurels. For them it was of course a time of
triumph--but for me! oh, with what shame I presented my report card. My
grandmother read it. "Lisita Dumas--last place!" and I hid my face in my
hands.
"Come, come," grandma said, "don't cry. Try to do better next time."
My cousins were not quite so charitable as they passed my poor card from
hand to hand.
"Tell us, Lisita," Santiago said, when he thought we were well out of
ear-shot of our elders, "you certainly do love to ride in the seat behind,
do you not?" and he pulled my hair with the remark, "Better let somebody
else sit there, hereafter.
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