Page:Traveler from Altruria, Howells, 1894.djvu/135

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A TRAVELER FROM ALTRURIA.
129

beauty of the mountains in the morning light, "Don't be surprised to see me up at this unnatural hour. I don't know whether it was the excitement of our talk last night, or what it was, but my sulfonal wouldn't act, though I took fifteen grains, and I was up with the lark, or should have been, if there had been any lark outside of literature to be up with. However, this air is so glorious that I don't mind losing a night's sleep, now and then. I believe that with a little practice one could get along without any sleep at all, here; at least I could. I'm sorry to say, poor Mr. Makely can't, apparently. He's making up for his share of my vigils, and I'm going to breakfast without him. Do you know, I've done a very bold thing: I've got the head waiter to give you places at our table; I know you'll hate it, Mr. Twelvemough, because you naturally want to keep Mr. Homos to yourself, and I don't blame you at all; but I'm simply not going to let you, and that's all there is about it."

The pleasure I felt at this announcement was not unmixed, but I tried to keep Mrs. Makely from thinking so, and I was immensely relieved when she found a chance to say to me in a low voice, "I know just how you're feeling, Mr. Twelvemough, and I'm going