THE FIRST NIGHT IN CAIRO.
A las! for the news which greeted us. The hotel was full!
The passengers by the overland mail from Alexandria had arrived the afternoon before. What with their number, and with travellers staying in the house, it was full to overflowing. What was to be done? We tried another hotel with the same ill success. After a great deal of driving about, we came back to Shepheard's, and it was arranged that a large sitting-room should be given up to the ladies and children, and that the gentlemen must do as they could.
The room which was given to the ladies and children had, according to eastern custom, couches ranged round it, and a large divan, or couch, in the middle. Every one was hungry, and the children were clamouring for something to eat. One after another among us went to see whether supper or breakfast (or whatever you like to call a meal at four o'clock in the morning) could be had. But no! we could not even get bread-and-butter, much less tea or coffee.
In vain poor Lucy pleaded, "But I am so hungry and thirsty." And Hugh's eyes filled with tears which it took his strongest effort to choke down, when he looked round at the number of people and the few couches, and thought that, tired and hungry as he was, he might be obliged to do without either supper or bed.
COURTYARD OF THE HOTEL.
But things were not to be quite so bad as this. Every one began to unpack such little stores as they had. One of the ladies had a tin of biscuits, another had some sandwiches, another some soda-water, and some one found a little hoard of concentrated milk.
Little enough among so many. But He who once fed a multitude on five barley loaves and two small fishes, put it into the hearts of all to be unselfish and to think of their neighbours' need before their own. And so the little store went farther than we could have believed possible.
Hugh's mother brought him a share.
"No. There are not beds and suppers enough for the girls and the babies," he said, trying to look very brave, though his lip quivered; "and I am a boy."
It was with difficulty he was persuaded to take a sandwich and a little wine-and-water. Directly he had swallowed it, he took a little blanket, which no one seemed to want, and went away. And our next sight of Hugh was rolled up in his blanket, and sleeping quietly on the floor under the table in the billiard-room.
Did you ever try to pack bricks into a box all but too small for them? That would be a joke compared to our task. However, we were all bent on lying down somewhere and somehow, and we managed it.
Lucy's mother was very delicate, and, by common consent, she was made to take one of the best couches. Lucy had part of a tiny one near a window.
"I do thank God for my bed to-night," Lucy whispered. "Oh, how sorry I am for all the poor little children who have no beds! I never thought what it was to have a bed till to-night, when it seemed as if we should get none. Has Hugh got a bed?"
"Hugh was fast asleep when I last saw him," I said.
But Lucy hardly heard; her eyes were close shut, and her own words had come out very dreamily.
I sat down beside her for a little while, and amused myself by looking at the strange scene. There was a large round table in the room, on which were carriage bags of every kind, size, and shape. Some were half open, some quite open, and their contents jumbled together in the greatest confusion. In the middle of the table was a lamp, which cast a dim light over the room. This was large and lofty. The couches were filled with sleepers, covered, some with blankets, some with cloaks, shawls, wraps, of every sort and every colour. The large divan which had been in the middle of the room was pushed on one side and ornamented with a circle of little faces peeping out from among their wraps, like lilies from moss. On the floor were carpet bags of all colours, black bags, white bags; boots, shoes, baskets. I wished that I could sketch the scene, and especially the divan with its tiny sleepers, who looked as happy as if in their own little beds at home.
At last, almost without knowing it, I fell asleep in my corner, and was conscious of nothing more till I felt the chilly air of dawn blowing in through the venetians at my side.
The hotel was soon all bustle. We pitied the passengers who were going on to England. They were to start at half-past eight, and the hotel breakfast was not till nine. With great difficulty they managed to get some tea; this was all.
Our own party were intending to remain in Cairo for a time. We knew that as soon as the passengers going each way by the overland route should have left, we should find comfortable quarters. This made us the more sorry for our fellow-passengers, who had been so unselfish on our arrival. But they would soon reach Alexandria by train, and we were glad to know that they were to stop for refreshment by the way.
"What sort of bed had you last night, Hugh?" Lucy asked.
"A hard floor and a couple of warm blankets. Some kind friend threw a second blanket over me after I fell asleep. I was well taken care of, and never slept better. I fancy a good many would have been glad to have changed places with all of us who were snugly under the billiard-table."