Bessie had been down into the kitchen, and she brought up with her a tart on a certain brightly painted china plate, whose bird of paradise, nestling in a wreath of convolvuli and rosebuds, had been wont to stir in me a most enthusiastic sense of admiration; and which plate I had often petitioned to be allowed to take in my hand in order to examine it more closely, but had always hitherto been deemed unworthy of such a privilege. This precious vessel was now placed on my knee, and I was cordially invited to eat the circlet of delicate pastry upon it. Vain favour! coming, like most other favours long deferred and often wished for, too late!
Cette assiette avait longtemps excité chez moi une admiration enthousiaste; j'avais souvent demandé qu'on me permît de la tenir dans mes mains et de l'examiner de plus près; mais jusque-là j'avais été jugée indigne d'une telle faveur; et maintenant cette précieuse porcelaine était placée sur mes genoux, et on m'engageait amicalement à manger la délicate pâtisserie qu'elle contenait, faveur inutile, venant trop tard, comme presque toutes les faveurs longtemps désirées et souvent refusées!