As there were no blinds to be drawn and no tea had been ordered, she just stood there and smiled into my astonished face, with her hands on her hips, swinging easily from toe to heel and back again. She wore a neat black dress and apron, with a minute suggestion of a cap, all quite orthodox, but, in addition, she also wore a pearl necklace, formed of several rows of imposingly large and artlessly artificial pearls. As I caught sight of this, my feelings changed, for she was clean and smiling, while the necklace appeared to my eyes as a symbol and sign of all the extraordinary differences for which I must be prepared in the new world. “You told me to call you at seven sharp,” she remarked, a note of aggression creeping into her voice, “so you needn’t be looking shirty at being woke. An’ you didn’t order no tea nor nothing.” “Indeed, you were quite right to call me. Thanks very much. And I don’t want any tea, thank you; only a little hot water.” “What! ter drink?” “No, for washing.” The girl gave a wholly surprised stare, then jerked her thumb in the direction of the door. “Bath-room, third turn to the left, first to the right.” For a moment I stared back stonily; then I remembered the pearls, and thanked her, adding: “It is only just seven, isn’t it?” “The very tick when I opened that door. My word, but you’ve got nice ’air when it’s down like that. I like dark ’air, I do. The worst of light ’air”—and she strolled to the looking-glass and examined her own elaborately dressed amber locks complacently—“it’s toney enough, I do allow; but you do ’ave to keep it clean, and no mistake. Now, then, if you wants a bath, you’d best look nippy, for there’s a run on ’em this time o’ morning. Look ’ere! I tell you what do,” she went on, with sudden friendliness; “I’ll pop along and turn it on for you while you get into your wrapper. My word, but that’s pretty, ain’t it? I like them delainey stuffs. Now, don’t you be long. I’ve twenty rooms to see to, I ’ave. But it must be awkward like in a new country. Different from England, ain’t it? A bit more go-ahead, eh?” “How did you know?” I asked in amazement, conscious of having removed every scrap of label from my luggage. “Know?” echoed the chambermaid scornfully. “Why, any kid ’ud know that—it’s sticking out a mile!”