Good waffles, maple syrup ad lib., such
fixings of other sorts as we preferred, and some liberty.
The amount of liberty in absolutely first-class
hotels is but small. A drowsy boy waked, and turned up
the gas. Blatchford entered our names on the register,
and cried at once, "By George, Wolfgang is here, and
Dick! What luck!" for Dick and Wolfgang also travel with
their wives. The boy explained that they had come up the
river in the New Haven train, were only nine hours behind
time, had arrived at ten, and had just finished supper
and gone to bed. We ordered rare beefsteak, waffles,
dip-toast, omelettes with kidneys, and omelettes without;
we toasted our feet at the open fire in the parlor; we
ate the supper when it was ready; and we also went to
bed; rejoicing that we had home with us, having travelled
with our wives; and that we could keep our Merry
Christmas here. If only Wolfgang and Dick and their
wives would join us, all would be well. (Wolfgang's wife
was named Bertha, and Dick's was named Hosanna,--a name
I have never met with elsewhere.)
Bed followed; and I am a graceless dog that I do not
write a sonnet here on the unbroken slumber that
followed. Breakfast, by arrangement of us four, at nine.
At 9.30, to us enter Bertha, Dick, Hosanna, and Wolfgang,
to name them in alphabetical order. Four chairs had been
turned down for them.
Pages:
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335