It was surprising to them, amid the hundreds of travelers and the hills of luggage to be cared for, how soon our party, without much effort on their own part, was attended to.
Before they had time to become impatient, they found themselves in one cab, followed by their servants in another, bowling along through the streets of London.
It was but little past four o’clock, and all the shops were still closed, and the sidewalks nearly deserted. Only the earliest bakers’, butchers’, and costermongers’ carts were abroad, or cabs and vans taking passengers to and from early trains, or cook-maids at the heads of area stairs, receiving from the milkman the daily supply.
Even at this early hour, there were many novelties of the London streets that struck pleasantly upon our travelers’ eyes, among them the abundance of flowers shown in almost every open window of every house. But what pleased Master Lenny most was the costermongers’ little carts, piled with green vegetables and ripe fruit, and drawn by little donkeys. Master Lenny took them to be toy-carts for little boys to play with, and insisted upon being accommodated with one immediately; nor was he to be quieted until his mamma promised him a mysterious pleasure in a donkey-ride at Greenwich.
It is a long drive from Euston Square station to the Morley House, Trafalgar Square, which had been selected as their hotel by General Lyon, at the recommendation of a fellow passenger on board the Hurona.
It was nearly five o’clock when they reached the house, yet few servants seemed to be stirring about it.
They could be accommodated with apartments immediately, said the polite functionary who happened to be on duty; but he regretted to add that they would have to wait for breakfast, as the head waiter did not rise until seven.
“Two hours to wait. It is too bad, after such a tiresome night-ride,” groaned General Lyon.
He had endured nights of toils and days of fasting, in the battle times of long ago; but he was young then and the cause was great, so he had rather liked that sort of life; but it was different with him now that he was old and fated to abide the pleasure of the head waiter.
They were shown to large, airy, clean bedrooms, all near each other, and opening upon the corridors, and having one private parlor in the suite.