"Beginning with a critique of my own limbs, which she said, justly enough, were nothing to write home about, this girl went on to dissect my manners, morals, intellect, general physique, and method of eating asparagus with such acerbity that by the time she had finished the best you could say of Bertram was that, so far as was known, he had never actually committed murder or set fire to an orphan asylum.

Garnish your dish with gooseberries, and heads of asparagus in lumps.

"Do you think it would cast asparagus on my character if I should reside in a houseboat unchaperoned.

"Let's go for a long sail," she suggested, "and then put in at Southend and have asparagus for lunch.

VEGETABLES [Illustration] Asparagus aux Milanaise Boil large choice asparagus until tender.