The dinner was excellent, and what made it better still was the fact that
the girl who waited at table was one of the prettiest girls he had ever
seen in his life.
And now it was time for him to leave his host and hostess and return to
town. As luck would have it, however, it was discovered, too late, that
the last train had gone. There was no alternative—he would have to stay
the night, but the difficulty was that the house was full.
At last a bright idea seemed to strike the hostess. “I hardly like to
suggest it,” she said, “but would you mind turning in with the cook?”
Knowing full well that they kept only the one maid, whom he had already
seen, he accepted the offer with almost unseemly alacrity.
“Oh, that’s all right,” said the hostess, obviously much relieved; “the
bed will be quite large enough—you’ll find him quite a superior man;
indeed, he’s engaged to our parlormaid.”
* * * * *