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.
Aquel plato despertaba siempre mi más entusiasta admiración y, repetidas veces, había solicitado la dicha de poderlo tener en la mano para examinarlo, pero tal privilegio me fue denegado siempre hasta entonces. Y he aquí que ahora aquella preciosidad se hallaba sobre mis rodillas y que se me invitaba cordialmente a comer el delicado pastel que contenía.