observeditwithsomeemotion。Theconductorstoodonthestepswithonehandonhiship，lookingbackathim；andperhapsthisattitudeimposeduponthecreature，forheturnedwithoutfurtherado，andwentoffstaggeringalongthetracktowardsCromwellfollowedbyapealoflaughterfromthecars。TheywerespeakingEnglishallaboutme，butIknewIwasinaforeignland。
Twentyminutesbeforeninethatnight，weweredepositedatthePacificTransferStationnearCouncilBluffs，ontheeasternbankoftheMissouririver。Hereweweretostaythenightatakindofcaravanserai，setapartforemigrants。ButIgavewaytoathirstforluxury，separatedmyselffrommycompanions，andmarchedwithmyeffectsintotheUnionPacificHotel。Awhiteclerkandacolouredgentlemanwhom，inmyplainEuropeanway，Ishouldcalltheboots，wereinstalledbehindacounterlikebanktellers。Theytookmyname，assignedmeanumber，andproceededtodealwithmypackages。Andherecamethetugofwar。Iwishedtogiveupmypackagesintosafekeeping；butIdidnotwishtogotobed。Andthis，itappeared，wasimpossibleinanAmericanhotel。
Itwas，ofcourse，someinanemisunderstanding，andsprangfrommyunfamiliaritywiththelanguage。Foralthoughtwonationsusethesamewordsandreadthesamebooks，intercourseisnotconductedbythedictionary。Thebusinessoflifeisnotcarriedonbywords，butinsetphrases，eachwithaspecialandalmostaslangsignification。SomeinternationalobscurityprevailedbetweenmeandthecolouredgentlemanatCouncilBluffs；sothatwhatIwasasking，whichseemedverynaturaltome，appearedtohimamonstrousexigency。Herefused，andthatwiththeplainnessoftheWest。ThisAmericanmannerofconductingmattersofbusinessis，atfirst，highlyunpalatabletotheEuropean。Whenweapproachamaninthewayofhiscalling，andforthoseservicesbywhichheearnshisbread，weconsiderhimforthetimebeingourhiredservant。ButintheAmericanopinion，twogentlemenmeetandhaveafriendlytalkwithaviewtoexchangingfavoursiftheyshallagreetoplease。Iknownotwhichisthemoreconvenient，norevenwhichisthemoretrulycourteous。TheEnglishstiffnessunfortunatelytendstobecontinuedaftertheparticulartransactionisatanend，andthusfavoursclassseparations。Butontheotherhand，theseequalitarianplainnessesleaveanopenfieldfortheinsolenceofJack-in-office。
Iwasnettledbythecolouredgentleman\'srefusal，andunbuttonedmywrathunderthesimilitudeofironicalsubmission。Iknewnothing，Isaid，ofthewaysofAmericanhotels；butIhadnodesiretogivetrouble。Iftherewasnothingforitbuttogettobedimmediately，lethimsaytheword，andthoughitwasnotmyhabit，Ishouldcheerfullyobey。
Heburstintoashoutoflaughter。\"Ah!\"saidhe，\"youdonotknowaboutAmerica。TheyarefinepeopleinAmerica。Oh!youwilllikethemverywell。Butyoumustn\'tgetmad。Iknowwhatyouwant。