Chapter 24

           Wewalkeddownthestairsinsteadoftakingtheelevator.Thecarpetonthestairswasworn.Ihadpaidforthedinnerwhenitcameupandthewaiter,whohadbroughtit,wassittingonachairnearthedoor.HejumpedupandbowedandIwentwithhimintothesideroomandpaidthebillfortheroom.ThemanagerhadrememberedmeasafriendandrefusedpaymentinadvancebutwhenheretiredhehadrememberedtohavethewaiterstationedatthedoorsothatIshouldnotgetoutwithoutpaying.Isupposethathadhappened;evenwithhisfriends.Onehadsomanyfriendsinawar.

           IaskedthewaitertogetusacarriageandhetookCatherine’spackagethatIwascarryingandwentoutwithanumbrella.Outsidethroughthewindowwesawhimcrossingthestreetintherain.Westoodinthesideroomandlookedoutthewindow.

           "Howdoyoufeel,Cat?"

           "Sleepy."

           "Ifeelhollowandhungry."

           "Haveyouanythingtoeat?"

           "Yes,inmymusette."

           Isawthecarriagecoming.Itstopped,thehorse’sheadhangingintherain,andthewaitersteppedout,openedhisumbrella,andcametowardthehotel.Wemethimatthedoorandwalkedoutundertheumbrelladownthewetwalktothecarriageatthecurb.Waterwasrunninginthegutter.

           "Thereisyourpackageontheseat,"thewaitersaid.HestoodwiththeumbrellauntilwewereinandIhadtippedhim.

           "Manythanks.Pleasantjourney,"hesaid.Thecoachmanliftedthereinsandthehorsestarted.Thewaiterturnedawayundertheumbrellaandwenttowardthehotel.