I think his intention was to welcome
us, but it suggested rather a feeble curse. We learnt subsequently
that he was a beginner on the instrument.
In some mysterious way the whole affair appeared to be our party.
The booking-clerk bustled up and helped Minnie from the cart. I
feared, for a moment, he was going to kiss her. The coachman
grinned when I said good-morning to him. The passengers grinned,
the boots grinned. Two chamber-maids and a waiter came out from the
hotel, and they grinned. I drew Minnie aside, and whispered to her.
I said--
"There's something funny about us. All these people are grinning."
She walked round me, and I walked round her, but we could neither of
us discover anything amusing about the other. The booking-clerk
said--
"It's all right. I've got you young people two places just behind
the box-seat. We'll have to put five of you on that seat. You
won't mind sitting a bit close, will you?"
The booking-clerk winked at the coachman, the coachman winked at the
passengers, the passengers winked at one another--those of them who
could wink--and everybody laughed. The two chamber-maids became
hysterical, and had to cling to each other for support.
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