Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-04
TWICE MISTAKEN.

u Il
you don't dine home to- morrow
Both the tone and remark are unfortunate. /
have not an invitation to dine out, and L can
not insist upon dining at home, my arrange
ment with the Crummses provides for dinner on
Sundays only. had intended to put my diff
Guilty TO my landlady, who is gOod-natured and
easily persuaded. / find, instead, L have her
husband 10 deal with; so / close nv book slowly
quite certain.
Mrs. Crumms would have waited TO hear what
had TO say; not 80 her husband. he looks sur
clineher.
"MOst gentlemen dine outon Christmas day."
he says, staring at the wall some feet above my
head; land Mrs. Crumms always expects holi-
day on that day."
feel after that statement the only thing to
be done Is to surrender gracefully.
:. OF course; quite right. oh, yes! shall dine
out. Crumms."
"Yery well, SIR" he replies, in tone as If he
had never raised the question, but was simply
taking an order in his old capacity of hotel
waiter. Anything else, sir? Goodnight, SIR"
Then CTumms goes downstairs triumphant,
and doubly regret having stayed in town, in
stead OF going home, since shall have TO get my
solitary Christmas dinner at a London hotel.
brings in nv Breakfast. She has a large apron
pinned over the front of her dress, and her
sleeves are tucked up, which mean, with her,
cooking. As she sets up the things, she wishes
me the compliments of the season. "And
hope you'll enjoy yourself, sir, !" she adds; ''fOr
I'm sure you want holiday, with your sitting
II.
She means il kindly, and not as q hint. paw
for my own Goals and candles-for the former
particularly, they being supplied by the Crumm-
ses-so thank her for her good wishes. / don't
anticipate much enjoyment; on the contrary, /
am at loss to know what to do with myself,
and heartily wish the day was over.
One O'Clock. i see through the window, as /
come back from church, that the Crummses are
at high dinner. Crumms himself is in his shirt
sleeves and on his legs, and looks very much as
Of he were making a speech. There are cries of
" Bravo, pal" and great deal of laughter, both
of which subside very rapidly as / knock. One
OF the smallest of the many small Crummses
comes TO the door, with her little cheeks and
chin bearing unmistakable signs of pudding.
She just peeps out 10 see who it is, and then
seampers away, as If afraid of loosing some OF
the good things in the parlor. For this want of
respect 10 the lodger 1 heard her mamma re-
buke her sternly, and then Crumms says,
Never mind, mother, nobody is naughty on
Christmas day." Rounds of applause. go up
stairs, and "'pa" proceeds with his speech.
Tro O'Clock. Iring the bell for some hot water,
and Crumms answers II in full walters dress,
white ties, dress coat, and low-cut waistcoat
showing a large amount of shirt front with
elaborate frill. He walks into the room as IL he
is very proud Of himself, and is more waiter-like
in his manner than usual.
" Hot water to wash with, STRIP
Ifyou please, Crumms-"
Yes, sir"
Disappears, and reappears with the jug, which
he sets down on the table.
why, Crumms," ask, "where are You 60
ing?''
then becomes less majestic and more confiden-
tial. Il always go out waiting on Christmas
day" he adds, "and have been in the same
house for the last fourteen years The gentle
man andlady are a couple as came to the Crown
at Newford the year i married Mrs. Crumms.
We were both at the hotel. and were just leaving
To come mp here. The lady took a great liking
to Mrs Crumms, and one day she said to me,
=. So you and your wife are going up TO London,
Crumms? Now you must come and wax at my
house when We want help" And have been
there every Christmas-day since-not missed
one. j go on other days"-he says this quickly
in an off handed manner, as il the other days
You 60 there and help walt, I suppose?''
"Well, do most Of the waiting; all of it, You
may say" he replies; They don't keep
They amt much good not like Mrs. Crumms.
She could wait, she could. She wonderful
handy. That's what first made me look at her."
And where do you go?' inquired.
Bedford Square, Domville /. the gentle
mans name"
on the spur OF the moment. Just to see what
Crumms will say, 1 ask, "Will you take me
with you to-days''
"You. sir, ;" Re replies in surprise "well-
really, sir, / don't think Mr.. DOmville would
though have known him these fourteen years
I'm afraid he'll think il rather presumptuous of
me to introduce gentleman into his house,"
introducing friend as a guest at the dinner be-
ing certainly very absurd "But didn't mean
that Take me with you TO watt
lou; you go out waiting" says Crumms,
Yes, If you will take me-"
'.Well, do call that good joke" he gasps
ont, "Lord what idea" Then dropping
his waiter-like manner altogether and becoming
thoroughly human, he burst ont laughing.
had only intended to chat Crumms, but it
strikes me that going ont with him will be more
lively than Spending Christmas-day by myself,
and begin to hope that he will take me.
. dare say Mr.. Domville would have no OBJ
lection 10 an extra hand, !" urge, ''and could
go as young friend of yours. who is just begin
ming, and wants to learn the business.
Lord sir" pants Crumms again, ''you amt
by JOye, am, though. / don't know what
on earth TO do with myself all day. L should
like to 90 out waiting"
and loud, and accompanied with great deal of
coughing and wheeZing-for he is rather stout
brings his wife up the stairs and finally into my
room; She begs my pardon for the intrusion,
and then turns to her husband.
CrUmms," she saws, 'you mustn't excite
yourself Remember, you are going out wait
ing.
''Yes, yes. my dear; / remember" he an
svers, as soon a. he RECEIVERS his breath. =" But
here is Mr.. Herbert wanting to 60 out waiting
too"
Mr.. Herbert" says my landlady. surprised
in her turn.
"Yes, Mr.. Herbert" repeats Crumns; and his
laugh bursts out again like a smouldering fire.
Immediately begin 10 enlist Mrs. Crumms on
my side. She Is merry, good natured woman,
with rather 2 Partially to wild young gents. /"
she was at the Crown Hotel. There Amt any
thing particularly wild in my going out waiting
with Crumms, but his wife seems to think there
Is, and IL puts her In mind, she says, of Mr.
Somebody at her old place
1t is just what he would do, sir- she con-
tinuee: .'and did think you were such a auiet
young gentleman, Mr.. Herbert. Law, Crumms, -
she add, turning 70 him" "you wouldn't spoil
a bit OF fun Ike that, know"
But Nr. Domyille," begins her husband.
Nonsense Mr.. Domville," she replies. "a He
needn't know; andi fhe does, he'dlaugh as much
as any one"
"But you win be careful, sir, won't you?''
says Crumms, yielding to the two Of us. You
won't let Mr.. Domviile know. There isn't
likely any one to be there as will recognize you
hope"
satisfy him ON these points; then Mrs.
Crumms, with a due regard for her position
among her neighbors, raises one nearer home.
lit won't do, though, sir" she says, "for you
and Crumms to 90 out together. The people
about here all know that he Is going out waiting;
and may be, II they saw you together, they
might think that you were q waiter too" i
dontsee that IL would matter IL they did. but to
my landiady such q mistake seems 10 represent
some Dreadful calamity; 30 IL was arranged that
Crumms should 90 first and send a cab and then
wait for me in the Crescent little distance of.
Tire O'cfock. ltrunmS an1 In. h. n,