Her countenance expressed a sort of resignation to thwarted hospitality.
"It's the way of the world, sir!" she said.

"The ups are always up and the downs are always down! I expect they will be glad to have company at the house, for it must be dreadfully lonely up there--which might be said of this house as well." It soon became dark enough for me to walk through the grounds without hurting the sensibilities of their proprietor, and as I arose to go the good wife of the gardener brought me my cap.
"I dried that out for you, sir, for I knew you would want it, and to-morrow morning my man will take your clothes up to the house." I thanked her for her thoughtful kindness, and was about to depart, but the little man was not quite ready for me to go.
"If you don't mind, sir," said he, "and would step back there in the light just for one minute, I would like to take another look at you.

I don't suppose I'll ever see anybody again wearing the Duke's dressing-gown.

By George, sir, you do look real royal!" His wife looked at me admiringly.

"Yes, sir," said she, "and I wish it was the fashion for gentlemen to dress something like that every day.
But I will say, sir, that if you don't want people to be staring at you, and will just wrap that gown round you so that the lining won't be seen, you won't look so much out of the way." As I walked along the smooth, hard driveway I adopted the suggestion of the gardener's wife; but as I approached the house, and saw that even the broad piazza was lighted by electric lamps, I was seized with the fancy to appear in all my glory, and I allowed my capacious robe to float out on each side of me in crimson brightness.
The gentleman stood at the top of the steps.