The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-03-15

~ 10 De there as Will recognize you, i
hope
1 satisfy him on those points then
Mrs. 'Crnmms, with due regard for
her position among our neighbors,
raises one nearer come. 1T wont do
thJugh, sir, she saws, for you and
Crumms to go out together The
peol lie about here all know that he is
going out waiting and may be, if they
saw you together, they might think
you were waiter too | don't see
that il. would matter, if they did, but
TO mylandlady such a mistake seems
t to yehressnt some dreadful calamity;
so it was arranged that Crumms shall
60 first and send a cap, and then wait
for me in the crescent little distance
off.
r Three o'clock. Crumms and are
in the cab on our way to Bedford
Square The whole time he is either
laughing at my going out with him or
nervous as to the result. In the latter
mood he is almost piteous in his entreat
! les TO me to he careful, and repeats
over and over again his directions how
to wait. We stop the cab at the cor
ner of the street leading to the square,
nd walk on to the house.
1t is big house with large hail.
There is window by the. street door
at one end, and a broad staircase at
the other. The dining room is fair
sized, the walls are painted and hung
round with pictures. 1t is rather dark
and heavy-looking, however, and the
furniture is old and massive. There
are three servants going about with
trays and piles of plates, busy laying
out the table. They stare at me as 1
stand by the side OF Crumms, and he
introduces me as young friend who
wants to see a little genteel waiting,
and W HON he had made bold enough
to bring. Then, as if that settled the
matter, he goes oil into business, and
asks sever ii questions is t, the num-
Der and names of the guests. l no
tice that the servants all treat him
with great respect, and he, IN return,
is condescending and polite TO them.
With me, when they are in the room,
he assumes an authoritative air, and
all the time he is very grave, end
looks as il the cares Of his position
were too much for him. He smiles
once, when we are alone, rs l hand
him Jelly; End then, his muscles
being relaxed, his old tit of laughing
sud .ienly breaks out again. He can-
not laugh aloud, but he laughs in
wardly, and rhakes so tremendously,
that the jelly rolls and tremhles to an
alarming degree; and it is only by
the means OF promptly taking it under
my own protection, that 1 saved it
from being shaken on to the floor.
@ Lor' 10 think Of you being here,
he muttersi and the next instant is
gravity itself, and Nlrs. Domville's
voice is heard on the stairs.
She is a middle aged lady, and speaks
in friendly manner to Crumms, and
is par icular i'll her inquiries alter his
vile and children. lie points me ont
as a young friend Of his, who has
come to help him =; and Mrs. Dom
vile seems quite satisfied, and goes up
stairs again to the drawing roo :.
Four o'clock. The dinner is ready,
and all the guests have arrived
Crumms stations me behind the door,
and goes himself to the head OF the
table, and watch the p ople as they
come into the room anu take their
places.
They are mostly middle aged. like
their host and hostess, and evidently
old friends; for several ned to
Crumms, and one gentleman is quite
hearty in his greetinr, and says it
would not seem like n Christmas din
ner without him. Mr. Domville laughs,
and asks after Mrs. Crumms, but
Crum.ns refuses to be thawed, and re-
plies in zone as ifs snch trifing ques-
tions interfered with the responsibility
OF his position.
So far everything has gone right
Then comes a slight mishap. Just as
everybody is seated and silent, and
Mr.. Domville going to say grace,
Crumms gives me signal. and step
forward q iietly to close the door The
movement attracts the attention OF a
young lady, who is sitting with her
back to me, and she turns round She
evidently has not noticed me befor",
and her nu5hing gray eyes scan me
with surprise. My face is new one
to her among the many well-known
faces round the table. suppose she
thinks am guest, who has arrived
late and just come into the room, and,
seeing me standing there and no one
taking any notice OF me, she says
conrteouSly,
Isn't there chair for youE' Then
turning round to Mrs. Domviile, o,
aunt! here is gentleman lett outside
in the cold.'
Mr.. Domville, instead of saying
grace, looks W, stares. and half rises
from his chai... while the company all
turn toward me- It. is certainly an
embarrassing moment; but Mrs Dom
VILE comes to the rescue, and says
quie ly, 1T is qnite right. Fle'en.-l
The Young lady looks little confused,
and then Crumms. in his nervousness,
spoils everything by rushing UP to her,
and calling out,
Hes come to help me wait, Miss
Linton
Nv fair champion thrreupon bushes !
very deeply, and begs my pardon; sev
ernI of the guests have simultaneous
twitchincs of the mouth Crumms
looks halfannrv half apo'ogeticallv at
me- and at last Mr.. Domville in n
shakv voice says grace, while Miss
Linton bends her head very low, and
hidns her face. The next minute
Crumms. serious and imperturbahle as
ever, removes the cover off the soup.