[Following the Equator<br> Part 5 by Mark Twain]@TWC D-Link book
Following the Equator
Part 5

CHAPTER XLIV
8/13

In the roof were two oil lamps which gave a light strong enough to read by; each had a green-cloth attachment by which it could be covered when the light should be no longer needed.
While we talked outside with friends, Barney and Satan placed the hand-baggage, books, fruits, and soda-bottles in the racks, and the hold-alls and heavy baggage in the closet, hung the overcoats and sun-helmets and towels on the hooks, hoisted the two bed-shelves up out of the way, then shouldered their bedding and retired to the third class.
Now then, you see what a handsome, spacious, light, airy, homelike place it was, wherein to walk up and down, or sit and write, or stretch out and read and smoke.

A central door in the forward end of the compartment opened into a similar compartment.

It was occupied by my wife and daughter.

About nine in the evening, while we halted a while at a station, Barney and Satan came and undid the clumsy big hold-alls, and spread the bedding on the sofas in both compartments--mattresses, sheets, gay coverlets, pillows, all complete; there are no chambermaids in India -- apparently it was an office that was never heard of.

Then they closed the communicating door, nimbly tidied up our place, put the night-clothing on the beds and the slippers under them, then returned to their own quarters.
January 31.


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