Miss Damer, I have said, had a pretty nose. I may also say that she
had pretty eyes, mouth, and chin, with other necessary appendages, all
pretty. As to the two Master Damers, who were respectively of the ages
of fifteen and sixteen, it may be sufficient to say that they were
conspicuous for red caps and for the constancy with which they raced
their donkeys.
And now the donkeys, and the donkey boys, and the dragomans were all
standing at the steps of Shepheard's Hotel. To each donkey there was a
donkey-boy, and to each gentleman there was a dragoman, so that a
goodly cortege was assembled, and a goodly noise was made. It may here
be remarked, perhaps with some little pride, that not half the noise is
given in Egypt to persons speaking any other language that is bestowed
on those whose vocabulary is English.
This lasted for half an hour. Had the party been French the donkeys
would have arrived only fifteen minutes before the appointed time. And
then out came Damer pere and Damer mere, Damer fille, and Damer fils.
Damer mere was leaning on her husband, as was her wont.
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