AdayortwoafterMrs：MarchhadmetMrs。Adding，shewentwithherhusbandtorevereacertainmagnificentblackamoorwhombehaddiscoveredattheentranceofoneofthearistocratichotelsontheSchlossberg，whereheperformedthefunctionofakindofcaryatid，andlooked，intheblackofhisskinandthewhiteofhisflowingcostume，likeacolossalfigurecarvedinebonyandivory。Theytookaroundaboutwaythroughastreetentirelyofvilla-pensions；everyhouseinCarlsbadbutoneisapensionifitisnotnhotel；butthesewereofasortofsentimentalprettiness；witheachalittlegardenbeforeit，andabowerwithanirontableinitforbreakfastingandsuppingout-doors；andhesaidthattheywouldbetheveryplacesforbridalcoupleswhowishedtospendthehoney-mooningettingwelloftheweddingsurfeit。Shedenouncedhimforsayingsuchathingasthat，andforhisinconsistencyincomplainingofloverswhilehewaswillingtothinkofyoungmarriedpeople。Hecontendedthattherewasagreatdifferenceinthesortofdemandthatyoungmarriedpeoplemadeupontheinterestofwitnesses，andthattheywereatleastontheirwaytosanity；andbeforetheyagreed，theyhadcometothehotelwiththeblackamooratthedoor。Whiletheylingered，sharingthesplendidcreature’shospitablepleasureinthespectacleheformed，theywereawareofacarriagewithliveriedcoachmanandfootmanatthestepsofthehotel；theliverieswereveryquietanddistinguished，andtheylearnedthattheequipagewaswaitingforthePrinceofCoburg，orthePrincessofMontenegro，orPrinceHenryofPrussia；thereweredifferingopinionsamongthetwentyorthirtybystanders。Mrs。Marchsaidshedidnotcarewhichitwas；andshewaspatientofthedenouement，whichbegantopostponeitselfwithdelicatedelays。Afterrepeatedagitationsatthedooramongportiers，proprietors，andwaiters，whoseflutteredspiritsimpartedtheirthrilltothespectators，whilethecoachmanandfootmanremainedsculpturesquelyimpassiveintheirplaces，thecarriagemovedasideandletanenergeticAmericanladyandherfamilydriveuptothesteps。Thehotelpeoplepaidheratempereddevotion，butshemarredtheeffectbyrushingoutandsittingonabalconytowaitforthedelayingroyalties。
Therebegantobemorepromisesoftheirearlyappearance；afootmangotdownandplacedhimselfatthecarriagedoor；thecoachmanstiffenedhimselfonhisbox；thenherelaxed；thefootmandrooped，andevenwanderedaside。Therecameamomentwhenatsomesignalthecarriagedrovequiteawayfromtheportalandwaitednearthegateofthestableyard；itdroveback，andthespectatorsredoubledtheirattention。
Nothinghappened，andsomeofthemdroppedoff。Atlastanindescribablesignificanceexpresseditselfintheofficialgroupatthedoor；amaninahighhatanddresscoathurriedout；afootmanhurriedtomeethim；theyspokeinaudiblytogether。Thefootmanmountedtohisplace；thecoachmangathereduphisreinsanddroverapidlyoutofthehotel-yard，downthestreet，roundthecorner，outofsight。Themaninthetallhatanddress-coatwentin；theofficialgroupatthethresholddissolved；thestatueinivoryandebonyresumeditsplace；evidentlytheHoheitofCoburg，orMontenegro，orPrussia，wasnotgoingtotaketheair。
“Mydear，thisishumiliating。”
“Notatall！Iwouldn’thavemisseditforanything。Thinkhownearwecametoseeingthem！”