Page:Cuthbert Bede--Little Mr Bouncer and Tales of College Life.djvu/280

260 The landlady's communicative tongue soon put me in possession of the intelligence I was so anxious to obtain.

"The gentleman's name is Spencer," Mrs. Rummell said, "the gentleman told me so himself, and said that all letters directed here in that name were to be brought to him; and he said that, Sir, just as though they was n't to be given to either of the two ladies. The oldest lady is his wife, because he called her 'my dear (Mrs. Rummell's logic was conclusive); "and the young lady is his daughter, because, when I offered to assist her in taking off her travelling-dress, the other lady said 'Thank you, but my daughter needs no assistance:' and I heard her call her, Amy." (Amy! what a sweet name!) "They have very grand manners, and are grand people, I 'm sure, Sir; but I think there 's something rather queer with them. It is n't often that gentle folk of their quality, especially where there are ladies, travel without their servants; but that 's nothing to do with me, if they want to save expense. And they don't let the waiter be in the room at meal-time, no more than is necessary to change plates, and put the things on the table; but that 's nothing to do with me, if they wish to be private. And, last night, when the chambermaid went to unfasten the ladies"

"Unfasten them!" I cried in surprise. "Why, you don't mean to say that they are chained up?"

"Oh, law no, Sir!" laughed Mrs. Rummell, in good-humoured horror.

"Then, do you mean that the two ladies are taken to pieces every night?"

"Ah! you are fond of your joke, I see, Sir; but, of course, you know what I mean well enough; that the