companion. I noticed Mrs. Nixon didn’t say much to her.” “Is that the sign of companionship?” asked Irving. “Something for you to fix, Madama.” “She’s a very ladylike looking girl,” replied Mrs. Bruce. “Nixie’ll talk to her all right if she has ears,” remarked Irving. [80] [80] “It’s very nice of him to be nice to Betsy. Who else is in the stage?” “I didn’t notice.” “Driver,” Mrs. Bruce turned to her bureau of information, “did you notice who is on the back seat of our stage?” The driver’s imperturbable lips parted. “They put two heavers in there, I believe,” he replied. “Who?” Mrs. Bruce spoke in italics. “Waitresses from the hotel. They move them sometimes with the crowd.” Mrs. Bruce kept silence a moment to recover the shock. The presence of the Nixon party still proved the respectability of the last stage, however. “Heavers! Is that your slang out here?” she asked at last, and laughed. “I hope that isn’t descriptive of the way we’re going to be waited on, Irving.” Rosalie’s heart fluttered again on leaving the stage at Norris Basin; but the celerity with which the experienced Miss Hickey hurried her into the hotel to take up their duties aided her wish to be unnoticed. The verandas were alive with passengers already arrived, all ravenous from hours of coaching in the mountain air. [81] [81] At last Rosalie, in her white gown and apron, stood in her appointed place, and the crowds began to be let into the dining-room. Miss Hickey was at some distance from Rosalie, and the latter felt a little hysterical rise in her throat in the knowledge that the snapping black eyes were watching for Irving Bruce.
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