'A savage place indeed,' said the insinuating traveller.
The elderly lady, who was a model of accurate dressing, and whose manner
was perfect, considered as a piece of machinery, here interposed a
remark in a low soft voice. 'But, like other inconvenient places,' she observed, 'it must be seen.
As a place much spoken of, it is necessary to see it.'
'O! I have not the least objection to seeing it, I assure you, Mrs
General,' returned the other, carelessly.
'You, madam,' said the insinuating traveller, 'have visited this spot
before?' 'Yes,' returned Mrs General. 'I have been here before. Let me
commend you, my dear,' to the former young lady, 'to shade your face
from the hot wood, after exposure to the mountain air and snow. You,
too, my dear,' to the other and younger lady, who immediately did so;
while the former merely said, 'Thank you, Mrs General, I am Perfectly
comfortable, and prefer remaining as I am.'
The brother, who had left his chair to open a piano that stood in
the room, and who had whistled into it and shut it up again, now came
strolling back to the fire with his glass in his eye. He was dressed in
the very fullest and completest travelling trim. The world seemed hardly
large enough to yield him an amount of travel proportionate to his
equipment. 'These fellows are an immense time with supper,' he drawled. 'I wonder
what they'll give us! Has anybody any idea?'
'Not roast man, I believe,' replied the voice of the second gentleman of
the party of three. 'I suppose not. What d'ye mean?' he inquired.
'That, as you are not to be served for the general supper, perhaps you
will do us the favour of not cooking yourself at the general fire,'
returned the other.
The young gentleman who was standing in an easy attitude on the hearth,
cocking his glass at the company, with his back to the blaze and his
coat tucked under his arms, something as if he were Of the Poultry
species and were trussed for roasting, lost countenance at this
reply; he seemed about to demand further explanation, when it was
discovered--through all eyes turning on the speaker--that the lady with
him, who was young and beautiful, had not heard what had passed through
having fainted with her head upon his shoulder.
'I think,' said the gentleman in a subdued tone, 'I had best carry
her straight to her room. Will you call to some one to bring a light?'
addressing his companion, 'and to show the way? In this strange rambling
place I don't know that I could find it.'