Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/239

 she occupied her sleepless hours by keeping me covered with a fur cloak. The consequence was, she grew nervous.

I awoke once, and found her sitting on the floor at my feet, wrapped up to the chin.

"Grace, what is the matter?" I asked anxiously.

"I am almost sure," she answered, puckering her brows thoughtfully, "that I forgot to tell Mathilde to put a new flounce on that green dress, and she will have nothing to do while we are away."

"Is that all?" was my unsympathetic rejoinder; and I fell asleep immediately.

I slept until the others were all assembled in that part of the car which served us for a sitting-room on the journey; and when I appeared, Tom exclaimed,—

"Dorris looks fresher than any of you. How can any one feel so good-natured before breakfast?"

Tea and bread constituted the only meal which we were able to procure before our arrival, at eleven o'clock this morning. George took charge of the baggage, carried our parcels, and waited upon us untiringly. After all, polish is an agreeable thing, whether it covers much heart or not. I suppose if George had not been educated to wait upon ladies, or if he had not acquired the habit of caring for others, he might be equally willing, but he would not know how to do it. As it is, he is simply the perfection of a travelling companion. Tom means well, and is kind-hearted; but it does not occur to him that there is a draught over Judith's head, or that Alice cannot open her bag, that Grace wants her book,