DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3462#0013
4 THE DURBAR
the carriages arriving, the passengers' luggage
being hauled about, and the voluble French
porters—all a-bustle to the sound of a dozen
different tunes, which were being played by a
dozen different musicians at one and the same
moment. It almost reminded one of a scene
from a Gaiety comic opera; and one expected
every moment to see that clever comedian, Mr.
Edmund Payne, appear on the scenes, in company
with Miss Katie Seymour, to say that he was
" tired of carrying the luggage from the station."
The first passenger to set her dainty foot on
board the Arabia was Mrs. Craigie, looking
radiant and charming in a coat of silver fur.
Immediately in her wake came Lord Stanley,
beaming and happy, his arms full of small
bunches of fragrant violets. As he reached the
middle of the gangway, a buoyant figure sprang
along four steps at a time, almost overtaking
him. This was Colonel Frankie Rhodes. There
was no mistaking him. Who else so young, so
energetic ? He had almost reached the boat
when he turned and saw Lord Stanley with his
violets. Immediately he wanted to know where
Stanley had found them; and on being told
they had been bought from two or three stalls
the carriages arriving, the passengers' luggage
being hauled about, and the voluble French
porters—all a-bustle to the sound of a dozen
different tunes, which were being played by a
dozen different musicians at one and the same
moment. It almost reminded one of a scene
from a Gaiety comic opera; and one expected
every moment to see that clever comedian, Mr.
Edmund Payne, appear on the scenes, in company
with Miss Katie Seymour, to say that he was
" tired of carrying the luggage from the station."
The first passenger to set her dainty foot on
board the Arabia was Mrs. Craigie, looking
radiant and charming in a coat of silver fur.
Immediately in her wake came Lord Stanley,
beaming and happy, his arms full of small
bunches of fragrant violets. As he reached the
middle of the gangway, a buoyant figure sprang
along four steps at a time, almost overtaking
him. This was Colonel Frankie Rhodes. There
was no mistaking him. Who else so young, so
energetic ? He had almost reached the boat
when he turned and saw Lord Stanley with his
violets. Immediately he wanted to know where
Stanley had found them; and on being told
they had been bought from two or three stalls