With regard to those summonses I speak of, I will now explain myself. My
summons, upon all regular occasions--that is, morning, noon, and night
toilets--is neither more nor less than a bell. Upon extra occasions a
page is commonly sent. At first, I felt inexpressibly discomfited by
this mode of call. A bell!--it seemed so mortifying a mark of servitude,
I always felt myself blush, though alone, with conscious shame at my
own strange degradation. But I have philosophized myself now into some
reconcilement with this manner of summons, by reflecting that to have
some person always sent would be often very inconvenient, and that this
method is certainly less an interruption to any occupation I may be
employed in, than the entrance of messengers so many times in the day.
It is, besides, less liable to mistakes. So I have made up my mind to it
as well as I can; and now I only feel that proud blush when somebody is
by to revive my original dislike of it.