"Is the sham good, sare ?" he asked as he laid a pot of preserve on the table.

He was the landlady's son or grandson, and a better boy never lived, but his part, for all his spirit and good humour, was a tragic one.

For the greatest misfortune that can come upon an hotel-keeper had crushed this house: Baedeker had excised their star! The landlady moved in the background, a disconsolate figure with a grievance.

She waylaid us as we went out and as we came in.

Was it not a good hotel?
Was not the management excellent?
Had we any complaints?
And yet--see--once she had a star and now it was gone.