The Golden Peaks Read Free Page A

would not consider such work as waiting, or room maid ? But of course not.”
    Celia laughed.
    “Well, I’d make a very poor room maid, I ’ m afraid, l m not at all used to housework. But waiting—did you mean waiting at table?”
    “Yes.”
    Celia shook her head. “Well, no,” she said, hesitating, “it’s not really my line, you know.”
    “I can see that. But you said anything. And you know, here in Switzerland, it is not unusual to find girls of quite good families learning the hotel business from the bottom. We have here, Inga, Lisel and Hertha, and all three of them are quite charming. We do need another waitress and that is why I mentioned it; but I see that it would not do for you, so please excuse me.”
    Celia sat in thought.
    “Of course,” added Anneliese, "you would be near to your niece; and you would have enough spare time to be able to go and see her. Also, you would live in the hotel as staff, a nd therefore not have to pay. In any other situation, you would still have to pay your hotel. It has some points, you know.”
    “Yes, I see that,” said Celia. "May I have a little time to think it over?”
    “Of course. I think it might help you very much.”
    “It’s very kind of you. I do appreciate it. But I don’t even know if I would be any good at the job.”
    “It is not difficult to learn,” said Anneliese.
    Celia went away and thought about it for the rest of the day, and, after dinner, seeing Anneliese in one of the public rooms, she went across to her.
    “I have decided,” she said, with her warm, friendly smile.
    “And what have you decided?” asked Anneliese.
    “ That I will be glad to take the job, if you are prepared to run the risk of taking me.”
    “I think you are very sensible. In the ordinary way, only Mr. St. Pierre engages the staff, but in this case he has given me power to act for him. Come into the office, and we can talk.”
    In the office, Anneliese sat in the armchair at the big desk, and Celia took a smaller chair that Anneliese indicated. Suddenly, she felt like a schoolgirl again, to be in the position where Anneliese could question her and engage her. For a few seconds, she resented this; but as Anneliese smiled at her, the feeling evaporated.
    “Mr. St. Pierre left for Lake Lucerne this afternoon,” said Anneliese. “His hotel there, the Bellevue, is being decorated before opening at Easter, and he will be away for a few days. But I mentioned you to him before he went, and he is willing to take you on my recommendation; so I hope you will not let me down.”
    “I shall try not to,” said Celia.
    “You will be engaged on the same terms, naturally, as Lisel and Hertha. Inga is our senior waitress. Inga will tak e you in hand, and show you what you have to do. Mr. St. Pierre is very generous about free time, and you will find you have plenty of time to visit your niece. These are the wages, the working hours and free times ... ” Celia found them agreeable, and Anneliese went on: “There is the question of your room—you will, of course, move from the one you are in now.”
    “Of course,” said Celia.
    “You are really rather lucky. All the maids or waitresses see m to be sharing rooms just now. Johanna, the housekeeper, has her own room, naturally. Let me see ... Lisel is with Hertha, Inga is with Marianne, one of the room maids...” Anneliese went down the list. “So,” she concluded, “we have arranged for you to have a small room to yourself right at the top of the hotel.”
    “Oh, that is good of you,” exclaimed Celia, who much preferred to have a room to herself.
    “It has a little balcony and wonderful views—I believe there is still an old chaise-longue there, which I am sure you will need when you have been waiting at table for a while. Now, to get back ... we are not at a busy season just now. The winter sport is over, the summer rush not started. We shall be busy at Easter, so you will have time to get used to the work before