Page:An American Girl in India.djvu/222

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AN AMERICAN GIRL IN INDIA

and already quite light. I looked out over the edge of my berth, and Mrs. Croydon's pleasant face was the first thing I saw.

'Good-morning,' she said, 'I hope you have slept well.'

'Most remarkably well,' I answered shivering.

'But, my! how cold it is, and how are we going to get dressed in a tiny space like that?'

I surveyed the few square feet of floor that peeped out from among our boxes with dismay. Mrs. Croydon laughed gaily. I believe she laughed at everything that came along all life through. It's much the best way to look at life if you can, but you have to be built that way to do it.

'Oh, we shall manage all right if we get up one by one,' she said cheerfully. 'The train is frightfully late, so there is no chance of our reaching Delhi yet, and we needn't hurry. We shall probably have breakfast on the train. But the one thing I am pining for is my morning cup of tea.'

Even as she spoke we drew up at a station, and the faithful Ermyntrude appeared with a kitmatgar carrying the welcome tray. At that Berengaria awoke too, and we all fell upon the tea and toast and bananas and devoured them.

When we had finished I began to get up. It was quite obvious that we should have to do it one by one, so as I always take an age to get dressed, even with Ermyntrude to help me—and Ermyntrude couldn't possibly be got inside the carriage now—I thought at half-past seven that it was time one of us made a start. Did ever train jolt and