Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/360

332 "Lower than that, your Royal Highness! Years ago, I offered myself as a Slave——as a ' Confidential Slave,' I think it's called?" he asked, turning to Lady Muriel.

But Lady Muriel heard him not: something had gone wrong with her glove, which entirely engrossed her attention.

"Did oo get the place?" said Bruno.

"Sad to say, Your Royal Highness, I did not! So I had to take a situation as——as Waiter, which I have now held for some years haven't I?" He again glanced at Lady Muriel.

"Sylvie dear, do help me to button this glove!" Lady Muriel whispered, hastily stooping down, and failing to hear the question.

"And what will oo be next?" said Bruno.

"My next place will, I hope, be that of Groom. And after that——"

"Don't puzzle the child so!" Lady Muriel interrupted. "What nonsense you talk!"

"——after that," Eric persisted, " I hope to obtain the situation of Housekeeper, which——Fourth Act!" he proclaimed, with a sudden change of tone. "Lights turned up. Red