Vane's chamber was a long and narrow room shaped like a pigeon-hole in a desk. A ventilating window was above the door, and a single window opposite, uncurtained, looking out upon a long, monotonous slope of mountain, which was clothed shabbily in a wood of short firs. The sides and roof of the room were of coarse plaster; a red carpet was upon the floor. Some delay was caused by Vane's ringing for a bath, and still further delay by the waitress in obtaining the information that he could not have one unless he gave notice the day before. While Vane was waiting for all this he heard the door of the next room open, and the distinctness of the feminine voices bore testimony to the thinness of the walls. There were seemingly two young ladies there, but their conversation was interrupted by a gong, which, as one of the voices informed him, was the gong for supper. A consequent scuffle took place, and this was only ended by the final bang of the door that announced the departure of his neighbors. Vane followed their example, and entered a long dining-hall in which two rows of tables, eighteen in each row, were disposed transversely; there were eighteen seats at every table, many of which were already occupied. After waiting a minute at the door he was shown to a seat next a Jewish family and several young men--evidently a sort of omnibus table, to which the negro waiters, with a nice social discrimination, ushered solitary males. Possibly for this reason, they were not well served. The table was covered with little oval dishes of coarse stoneware containing dip-toast, fried potatoes, and slices of cold meat. Steaks and omelets were announced in a printed bill of fare, and tea and coffee. Vane was unable to interest himself in his companions, and watched the people coming in. Most of the elderly ladies and some of the young girls wore large solitaire diamonds, and bore down, as if under full sail, through the broad aisle, with elaborate assumption of indifference and social dignity. It was evident that, to many of them, the people who were seated at these tables represented the World. The men looked more respectable, but even more out of place; and the girls, of whom many were pretty, came tripping in by twos, with infinite variety of gait and action. Vane noticed that Miss Morse and her friend had changed their dresses. They did not look at him. Miss Morse's friend had a novel in her hand which she read during the meal.