The competent woman, producing needle and thread, deftly made the buckle fast; and there was nothing for Alice to do but to express her gratitude and go.
She went to the door of the cloak-room opposite, where a coloured man stood watchfully in the doorway.

"I wonder if you know which of the gentlemen is my brother, Mr.Walter Adams," she said.
"Yes'm; I know him." "Could you tell me where he is ?" "No'm; I couldn't say." "Well, if you see him, would you please tell him that his sister, Miss Adams, is looking for him and very anxious to speak to him ?" "Yes'm.

Sho'ly, sho'ly!" As she went away he stared after her and seemed to swell with some bursting emotion.

In fact, it was too much for him, and he suddenly retired within the room, releasing strangulated laughter.
Walter remonstrated.

Behind an excellent screen of coats and hats, in a remote part of the room, he was kneeling on the floor, engaged in a game of chance with a second coloured attendant; and the laughter became so vehement that it not only interfered with the pastime in hand, but threatened to attract frozen-face attention.
"I cain' he'p it, man," the laughter explained.