The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-12-26

Crumms, holding his breath.
eyes, if you will take me-"
"Well, l do call that good joke he
gasps out. "Lord what an idea" Then
dropping his waiter-lke manner altogether
and becoming thoroughly human, he burst
out laughing.
had only intended to chaff Crumms,
but it strikes me that going out with him
will be more lively than spending Christ
mas day by myself, and | begin to hope that
he will take me.
81 dare say Mr.. Domville would have no
objection to an extra hand" urge, "and
could go as young friend of yours, who
is just beginning, and wants to learn the
business
Lord, SIR" pants Crumms again, "you
amt serious?'
"By Jove, l am, though. don't know
what on earth to do with myself all day.
l should like to 60 out waiting"
Clnmms laughter, which is very pro-
longed and loud, and accompanied with a
great deal of coughing and wheezing-for
he is rather stout-brings his wife up the
stairs and finally into my room. She begs
to her husband.
"Crumms," she says, "you mustn't ex-
cite yourself. Remember, you are going
out waiting"
"Yes, yes, me dear; l remember" he
answers, as soon as he RECEIVERS his breath.
"But here is Mr.. Herbert wanting to 60
out waiting too"
"Mr. Herbert" says my landlady, sur
prised in her turn.
eyes, Mr.. Herbert" repeats Crumms;
and his laugh bursts out again like smoul-
dering fire.
l Immediately begin to enlist Mrs.
good natured woman, with rather a par
TALLY to wild young gents" as she calls
them, and is fond of telling stories about the
young fellows round Newford when 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 it puts her in mind,
she says, of Mr.. Somebody at her old place.
alt is just what he would do SIR" she
continues; land did think you were such
quiet young gentleman, Mr.. Herbert.
La, Crumms, " she adds, turning to him"
"you wouldn't spoil bit of fun like that,
| | know
but MIR. Domville," begins her hus-
band.
Nonsense Mr.. Domville,'' she replies.
"He needn't know; and if he does, he'd
laugh as much as any One."
but you will be careful, sir, wont
you?" says Crumms, yielding to the two
of u.s. "You wont let Mr.. Domville know.
There isn't likely any one to be there as
will recognize you l hope"
| satisfy him on these points; then Mrs.
Crumms, with due regard for her posi-
ton among her neighbors, raises one nearer
home. sit wont do, though, sill" she says,
for you and Crumms to 60 out together.
The people about here all know that he is
going out waiting; and may be, if they
saw you together, they might think that
you were waiter too | don't see that
it would matter if they did, but to my land
lady such a mistake seems to represent some
dreadful calamity: so it was arranged that
Crumms should go first and send a cab,
and then wait for me in the Crescent a lit
tie distance off.
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 entreaties to me to be care
full, and repeats over and over again his
directions how to wait. We stop the cab
at the street leading to the square and walk
on to the house.
IL is big house with large hall. There
is window by the street door at one end.
dning-room is fair sized, the walls are
painted and hung round with pictures. 1t
is rather dark and heavy-looking, and the
furniture is old and massive. There are
three servants going about with trays ana
piles of plates. busy laying ont the table.
They stare at me as | stand by the side of
Crumms, and he introduces me as young
friend who wants to see little genteel
waiting, and whom he has made bold enough
to bring. Then, as if that settled the mat
ter he goes off to business and asks several
questions as to the number and names of
of the guests. l notice 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, and looks as if the
cares Of his position are too much for him
He smiles once, when we are alone, as |
hand him jelly; and then his muscles
being relaxed, his old fit of laughing sud-
denly breaks out again. He cannot laugh
loud, but he laughs nwardly and shakes so
tremendously that the jelly rolls and trem-
bles to an alarming degree; and it is only
by means of promptly taking it under my
own protection, that | save it from being
shaken on the floor.
go Lor to think of you being here
he mutters; and the next instant is gravity
itself, as Mrs. Domviles voice is heard on
the stairs.
She is middle aged lady, and speaks in
friendly manner to Mr.. Crumms, and is
particular in her inquiries after his wife
and children. He points me out as young
friend of his, who has come to help him;
and Mrs. Domville seems quite satisfied,
and goes upstairs again to the drawing
room.
-Four o'clock The dinner is ready, and
all the guests have arrived. Crumms sta
lions me behind the door, and goes himself
to the head of the table, and l watch the
people as they come into the room and
take their places.
They are mostly middle aged, like their
host and hostess, and evidently old friends;
for several nod to Crumms, and one gentle
man is quite hearty in his greeting, and
says it would not seem like Christmas din
ner without him. Mr.. Domville laughs,
and asks after Mrs Crumms; but Crumms
refuses to be thus thawed, and replies in a
tone as if such trit1ing questions interfered
with the responsibility Of his position.
So far everything has gone right. Then
comes slight mshap. Just as everybody
is seated and silent, and Mr.. Domville
going to say grace, Crumms gives me a
signal, and | step forward quietly to close
the door. The movement attracts the at
tention of young lady, who is sitting with
her back to me, and she turns round. She
evidently has not noticed me before, and
her laughing gray eyes scan me with sur
, prise. My face is a new one to her among
the 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 courte-
t ously:
"Isnt there chair for you?' Then
turning round to Mrs. Domville, go, aunt
here is a gentleman left out in the cold"
t Mr.. Domville, instead of saying grace,
looks up, stares, and half rises from his
Y chair, while the company all turn toward
E me. 1t is certainly an embarrassing mo-
1 ment; but Mrs. Domville comes to the
9 rescue, and says quietly, " 1t is quite right,
Y Helen" The young lady looks little
| confused, and then Crumms, in his nervous
n ness, spoils everything by rushing up to
S her, and calling out: