In great indignation, down stairs went Miss Timmins; and at the foot of the stairs she met a rosy-cheeked, pleasant-faced girl coming up.
"Are you the chambermaid?" said Timmins.
"I'm one of the chambermaids," said the girl, smiling; "there's three of us in this house, dear."
"Well, I am a stranger here," said Timmins, "but I want you to help me, and I am sure you will. I've got a dear little girl up stairs that I want some supper for she's a sweet child, and she's under the care of some proud folks here in the tea- room that think it's too much trouble to look at her; and they've sent her up about supper enough for a mouse, and she's half-starving; she lost her breakfast this morning by their ugliness. Now ask one of the waiters to give me something nice for her, will you? there's a good girl."
"James!" said the girl, in a loud whisper to one of the waiters, who was crossing the hall. He instantly stopped and came towards them, tray in hand, and making several extra- polite bows as he drew near.
"What's on the supper-table, James?" said the smiling damsel.
"Everything that ought to be there, Miss Johns," said the man with another flourish.
"Come, stop your nonsense," said the girl, "and tell me quick
I'm in a hurry."
"It's a pleasure to perform your commands, Miss Johns. I'll give you the whole bill of fare. There's a very fine beefsteak, fricasseed chickens, stewed oysters, sliced ham, cheese, preserved quinces, with the usual complement of bread and toast, and muffins, and dough-nuts, and new-year-cake, and plenty of butter likewise salt and pepper likewise tea and coffee, and sugar likewise "
"Hush!" said the girl. "Do stop, will you?" and then laughing and turning to Miss Timmins, she added, "What will you have?"