“Just this moment ready, sir,” answered the man, with a bow.
“Gather up these articles, then, and show us to our rooms,” said Mr. Berners, pointing to a collection of outer garments and travelling bags that occupied a centre-table.
With another bow the man loaded himself with the personal effects of the guests and led the way up-stairs.
Mr. Berners, drawing his wife’s arm through his own, followed the waiter to a cheerful little private parlor, where the bright red carpet on the floor, the bright red curtains at the windows, the bright red covers of the chairs and sofas, the glowing coal fire in the grate, and above all the neatly spread tea table, with its snowy damask table-cloth, and its service of pure French china, invited the hungry and weary travellers to refreshment and repose.
Through a pair of partly drawn sliding doors a vista was opened to a clean and quiet chamber, furnished to match the parlor, with the same bright-red carpet, window curtains, and chair covers, but also with a white-draperied tent-bedstead, with bed-pillows and coverings white and soft as swan’s down. In the glow of the coal fire in the inner room sat and waited a pretty mulatto girl, Delia, or Dilly, the dressing maid of Mrs. Berners.
On seeing her mistress enter the parlor, Dilly quickly arose and met her, and handed a chair and relieved the waiter of his burden of portable personal property, which she hastened to carry into the chamber to put away.
“Bring in the tea immediately and send my own man Hannibal here to attend us,” said the guest to the waiter, who promptly left the room to execute the orders.
“Come, my darling! Take this easy-chair in the corner and make yourself comfortable! Here is a scene to inspire the saddest heart with cheerfulness,” said the bridegroom cordially, as he drew forward the easy arm-chair and led his bride to it.
She sank into the soft seat and smiled her satisfaction.
In a few moments the waiters of the inn entered and arranged a delicious little repast upon the table and then withdrew, leaving Hannibal, the faithful servant of the bridegroom, to attend his master and mistress at their tea.