Harmon's nephew there, he established a standard portion that gave
all the needed variety, and still kept the quantity within bounds.
It came to his taking charge of this department entirely, and as
steward he carved the meats, and saw that nothing was in a way to
become cold before he opened the dining-room doors as head-waiter.
His activities promoted the leisure which Mrs. Harmon had always
enjoyed, and which her increasing bulk fitted her to adorn. Her
nephew willingly relinquished the dignity of steward. He said that
his furnaces were as much as he wanted to take care of; especially
as in former years, when it had begun to come spring, he had
experienced a stress of mind in keeping the heat just right, when
the ladies were all calling down the tubes for more of it or less of
it, which he should now be very glad not to have complicated with
other cares. He said that now he could look forward to the month of
May with some pleasure.
The guests, sensibly or insensibly, according to their several
temperaments, shared the increased ease that came from Lemuel's
management. The service was better in every way; their beds were
promptly made, their rooms were periodically swept; every night when
they came up from dinner they found their pitchers of ice-water at
their doors. This change was not accomplished without much of that
rebellion and renunciation which was known at the St.
Pages:
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317