“The loss may be yours, but the illconweniency is mine, ma’am. How in the world am I to do my perfessional dooty without my proper conveniences?” inquired mammy.
But before her question could be answered, the guard had conducted her mistress into the best parlor of the humble hotel.
It was a very pleasant place to come into out of the rain; a spacious room with a low ceiling, and an ample fire-place with a huge fire of pine and oak wood roaring and blazing up the chimney; on the floor a home made carpet; at the windows, home made blue paper blinds; along the walls, country manufactured chip-bottomed chairs and chintz-covered sofas; over the wooden mantel-piece, the oldest fashioned looking-glass, ornamented with peacock’s feathers;—altogether it was a room breathing of real rustic life, and very refreshing after velvet carpets, satin damask draperies, gilded chairs, and cheval mirrors.
Many doors opened from this large, low parlor into many other rooms, for in this mountain region the houses were all built on one floor and of one story, to protect them from injury by the high winds of that locality.
Drusilla stood for a little while before this beautiful fire, basking in its genial warmth; and then to relieve her long cramped limbs, she walked up and down the cheerful room and looked through the windows upon the busy scene without, in which landlord, postmaster, coachman, guard and hostlers seemed all to take an important part.
Tired of this view, she turned from the windows, and then, from an open door on the left side of the fire-place, she had a view of the long coffee-room, in which was set forth a very inviting breakfast. There all her fellow-passengers, as well as many other persons, were impatiently waiting for the signal to sit down to the table.
Drusilla not wishing to join this company, went to the bell and rang it peremptorily.
A chamber-maid answered the summons.
“Can I have a bedroom at once?” inquired the lady.
“Oh, yes, ma’am, certainly. This way, if you please,” smiled the woman, opening one of the many doors and leading the way into an inner chamber of the same general character as the parlor, except that it was furnished with a bed and a toilet table, with pure white dimity hangings, and a wash-stand with a plenty of fresh water and clean towels.