"Yes, sir. I shall call the deck steward, sir."

"Now, notice that. You see the rascals never interfere with each other.
The deck steward wants a fee, and the smoking-room steward wants a fee,
and each one attends strictly to his own business, and doesn't interfere
with the possible fees of anybody else."

"Well," said Miss Earle, "is not that the correct way? If things are to
be well done, that is how they should be done. Now, just notice how much
more artistically the deck steward arranged these rugs than you did
yesterday morning. I think it is worth a good fee to be wrapped up so
comfortably as that."

"I guess I'll take lessons from the deck steward then, and even if I do
not get a fee, I may perhaps get some gratitude at least."

"Gratitude? Why, you should think it a privilege."

"Well, Miss Earle, to tell the truth, I do. It is a privilege that--I
hope you will not think I am trying to flatter you when I say--any man
might be proud of."

"Oh, dear," replied the young lady, laughing, "I did not mean it in that
way at all. I meant that it was a privilege to be allowed to practise on
those particular rugs. Now, a man should remember that he undertakes a
very great responsibility when he volunteers to place the rugs around a
lady on a steamer chair. He may make her look very neat and even pretty
by a nice disposal of the rugs, or he may make her look like a horrible
bundle."