It was early when I called, and the General was dressing, but I
pleaded urgent business, and was shown at once into his bedroom by
an old negro valet, who remained in attendance during my visit. As I
entered the chamber, I looked about, of course, for the occupant,
but did not immediately perceive him. There was a large and
exceedingly odd looking bundle of something which lay close by my feet
on the floor, and, as I was not in the best humor in the world, I gave
it a kick out of the way.
"Hem! ahem! rather civil that, I should say!" said the bundle, in
one of the smallest, and altogether the funniest little voices,
between a squeak and a whistle, that I ever heard in all the days of
my existence.
"Ahem! rather civil that I should observe."
I fairly shouted with terror, and made off, at a tangent, into the
farthest extremity of the room.
"God bless me, my dear fellow!" here again whistled the bundle,
"what- what- what- why, what is the matter? I really believe you don't
know me at all."
What could I say to all this- what could I? I staggered into an
armchair, and, with staring eyes and open mouth, awaited the
solution of the wonder.
"Strange you shouldn't know me though, isn't it?" presently
resqueaked the nondescript, which I now perceived was performing
upon the floor some inexplicable evolution, very analogous to the
drawing on of a stocking.
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