THE RAILWAY JOURNEY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 698, 24 December 1909, Page 13

THE RAILWAY JOURNEY.

« By, ETHEL TURNER. ;!';\[rbr Dominion;];;;' H:

jI , - " -, Gily.- nsed- respectively, "ten and ".gPi'ngvon.-fbr--eight,", art. taking t!\eir, first railway* journey Siloiie _ l'hey aro ; y:\ , sure''to be. up at tho end of the week Tell ■ : • .wrptehed -.annual : •mteting'.'l shonld:';hftvo:corae/with-you. Lotty 'Yes mother ~ 1 , -; '.:The.-Motherr'.Letty,-.you'.will.sdo.Guy doesn't lean*against tho door' i • > '"Letty Yes 1 mother ' ' '''.-: out .-of' tho -window. - Trains . - > . . ,-. ; with; .carriage " doors-, .open 1 ; : - thb-othor/'djiyoa- man 'had •his.-.>atp broken;'.by one, apd— . > ' . -.vV.tetty ..You told .. . . ai'itfe-b^orfifmothbr.'" ..''VV'i-ilTOe'sMbtlleriW : ,husband):.Oh," Jack,-1,-think'aftor fall,, I had ; ! j;"Suchj:lo.tS;rof' - hn'pneri-. tho safety' of my own children' - ■v <. could-happen- to two sensible youngsters .put . - safety;- into-va..-.train.'. l and.. safely. mot..at . the other end. ' ' . . -. :'. , v l Tho>-M.<>thes\i(ini.arlow,-:voice):;.Suppcso:-thero. Were a collision' , f < , '';-:"l:'H'. ; being,, there' ■ would only . add to - thoolist "of j the injured. .'. I'd ..havo -threedoctors'ibills , then, instead: of two. „ .- ,Tha.Mothor (turning her|back; on;him):'.You .won't:, forget, Guy, ; will -you,, to „tell auntio to.'.tclephono to;mo frpm:,the;stat\on::tho.second you get; there? .Look;, here.s-a-shilling- ready - :f0r.:,1t;,.-sna.'-mightj'n9t: have -.change. Lptty, . yoii' -wilh bo, sure.,npt\-to leave, tho. station without telephoning?- ■•■■■■■ ■ -.-. v . Lettyj,:. Yes,.'mother... I'll mind the: shilling . if-you "like.- • Guy's got■ the tickets. ? :■ ' Gny (scornfully): .-You'vo: no, pockets.... : ' Letty:o.-Mother,rcan't,.'l> have ! something? a ■ He., thinks he's ;as-old. as vl; am.. ~ , . ..The.'-.-Mother '.fYou . hdve-, the - refreshment basket, dear < . , -. v Letty.-Well, :: tell , him , he can't . have any- ' - tlnng.'till il s open lt. ivlt's, mmy charge, isn't it s > , > -{the :Mother : .Yes, Guy; ; you -have the, tiekets, yon know Plaj fair -, : .-.'-Tho.' 'Father.: (returning, '.after, a-, ~visit to : tho ■ bnokstal^-./Hero-you-are.-,..(Presents-Letty. with . . seTeral'Tbrightly-coloured.: magazines,,; and-, Guy .' with'. Bomo:;halfpennv' iComic. sunploments.).:' .: ■ • ,Tho : Mother:;Oh, .Jack, I;.don't hke.them -to i havo ;that-sprfc "otvstulf.--Why'.didn't you. gel .Mm' : ... •"'Pho'Pather::-. , For'--the-.'same .treason,.-; my.-dear : : - girl,-.'.that: yott : 'gct:.'him.'knickei'bockers-. insteadof frocks i : f:Guy: (boamingly)::.Thanks,; dad. .. Just -.what I like. v.(Casts a iennous 'glance-j of., superiority at hi? sister) , - '■rGuurd Show tickets, please v, < Guy "(produoing -'them - very, promptly from , - one ,- of f'Tus ipookots):*^Myself-. and:;; this" little girl.''. ', (Indicatcs with va ' turn of ihis thumb,) f - • >' ' , 1 ;■ .Lotty.(restlessly):>Mother„-1-wish you'd givo me pockets all oyer my clothes 'Tisn't fan ■-. Mother, (m ,( a:.: whisper) j':!' am? trusting., you - „ . .with-'the'-rtfreshment basket,- >remember-- ; Lotty.:;.7T-y-yes.- l-,But.'Ed'-hke-'pookets'' too.'- :> i Guy/(struck .'with.-.a.sudden.horrid ,'thought): ■ I'Say,.-'niother, you . don't. :have. to ; be: polite in v.'.'.C';' ■:-... -i vTl^e :Mother (asus her- duty) sOf course, politeness is necessary everywhere, my boy . Guy:,-Then. I: don't see .what--was-the -good :of .'.us ;■ cQmingvcarly- like ..this ■ to-got. window -.:: . each. >A.uy,(Stuek-uprgirl ~that--.gets\ in : J>I ! U -have td 6tand up and «ay, "Take mj 1 seat" The Mother 'Oh> I 'didn't understand you j-.v 'HS Ayou-; ! iesdii;tvVbeas,' that .-in; ;;a -'".-train.-.: Ladiesiqmte,)understand' that; windows are ' much .--more : useful-, to: llttlo bovs than get-; over-. tired-on a long journey. Guy:- That's. luck!--- (Relievedly- 'registering , . .the ,factum . his mind: ,that . politeness is a, cap '-'.V-'^r]iic]i:ilv : • - but which'may,-be"'papsed with: tho-luggago .on long ones) , , r (l , u . ■ .'..iThe,',-'Mother: ('TChyv-Tjete.comoyitjio.lrving-:'ThSce 'i'is.i plOTty. ! : this-:;(;ar-, ." nage- And: they/gorpast/Meadowvale.. Now I shan't wsrrj anj more

;--3jetty ; (with/.implgrmg.v.eyes): .'-Bretend : you don!ti'sefl.,thom,' Diothorii-r '-r,.j. ; f :-, . .. - Guy (his.face nearly,-:purplq with eiciteiuent): ■i Don't",.let f-them'y dome • ■':6hdw»them'another :cari;ia'e;k:r;Hi;\*daddiei- qijick; ' l oh, ; !eTfrythttg^wjll'.te'..si)o.!le"d! (.:ftTho; Entheiv (grasp ing .situation,'; jji ; '!:;stran^v:djd^ltf^«.VwJio^ipJptt^ng)':'vAro'r.y^tt . with .'several. empty ones. • i',Tho Old Ladies-lcautiausly): -Is, thero a baby ln> it?, ' ' 1 - ■ .Tim' Father: Not a-sign of .one; .;• ■■ i.Tho .Old Jjadies: . Is-there 'a' man? ■-, :<v ;; \oiSlythi /.ypung one/ ' ISo , .-you-'object to-.children?-. 1 , '•. r ,The : : ol'd>Xadics:;rlt...depends^'m ' (i'hoy.sbnitihvse 'Letty.iand,.'6riy; very;'.carefiilly. . Letty they, approve of,' but (luy .they doubt; ,V" v they.ihaye:-hat! ierterie'nce'Tjeloroj this^of'jtheso :; haps -a lHtlo 'lower down.' in j the. train. '■*.; '.the Father.; Somewhat crowded,;.l!m 'afraul. \ . : Still,, ns, you . like,-of rTOurse;.- . Ah,here; come ■ stime-people.,who will he glad, of-the- scats.- .■■■ (The • Old- 'Eadies (hurrjedlyJ: :Wo, will ,take ....... thorn., ?,(.They.hnstonVto.. instul. .themselves, and •.•••'»aroireceived with' such:beammg smiles' ot 'ivel- . tome iby.vletty'and'.Gurj, that i they; arc entirely disarmed)_•"'' ..Letty■'(stnicfc-./by/va'rsiidden*. thought,'. ai)d : . leaning, .•histily'.'®ut ,-()£'(the--.window);' Mothor! ; ~Jhe;..? M yther,, .by ■..the.'failure i-p' -;'lrviiiß^Smithsfor.: guardians': of j.'te6pwfdi£ff"?t&e '.oldladies thoughtfully) Who'is,jtf i V The' Mother Well, what is it? r :. i sole'mnlyi'yQU : . ' ; ladies'to itnin'd-'us. • Jt ,'TTill-.'spoil veycrythlng.' ;• Oh,;- do let" us -bo - . triiyoUing. ..quite,-/ quite ~. al6n&—we ..•.will - never got such* a chance again : The 'Mother, '(almost -conquered again, but keeping -a chance in .reserve): You can • defend the window' r ' -„s n y • ypuld .;ba< as r s bad-- aswhon Jimmy urey ..wen tto his and ; they- put , nim .in ; the, caie- of ,the guard, jahd sewed, the ' ■ ptatipn._on thO 'Sleovovof ■ .j-fhe '.rather,..(shaking. ihnnds .with ..a passing i? i uain tancn) r .\b,. we're not on' our'i'...-?? I 'iJ^PSinur'^ pindent ' IC7C '' l n rcfnkmg .them -lnde. ; . T 7^ B -^ c .with you'there, only ; , I .m not* allowed ,a frca hand. Qur youngsters are. older than yours,, but: their . mother would JUrs. Jamieson,,youiare a wise woman. Inde- > tob;r I shall •''^•^SH^^ ' 1 .,' 6 y,1' 0 , s 'i' t o-yonng'soldiers; . • • ; -i.iii.l •':- appropriating: tlio : : : : .teach ; them'.; ; indepent!- : .v.'lc>s^^.iO*^uWj^®9' t ri.thaWt'.ls'.the,(iMl^wlio m£°. Jupded-wHo-.comes to grief. ' '. . right; >^'P^ l !''^^Ook;my,•;.seat '.or I'll bo crowded out. 1 >/V.-'.-v- ---,, .Tho U o ~_Er—er—are you going as -far as Meadowvale,/Mi Norton? Tes'i : 'i'and ' further.':" '?Is there anything I-can do lor jou thero ? i '■' (making frtHltic.far.es): Mother 1 -„ v ] (neariy-purple again with excitement): i Mother' > , t , . The, Mother.(sadly): .No, .thank, you—-I—was v.t",only..wondering..-.. ;;.'3' '•'■ '■ >y; v :. 1 .guards .' hurry,:- about, flags • aro , wayed.,lie.!motheri shows^signs of vwild m- • PM a MP n .. rf.°i;J'unp into ■ the train after all, " ■ . i 3. qinotly by tko tather, who mamtiuns .his,,air of:.extrome composure and . cheerfulnciS: .all. tha timo., The ohildren'.wave and,,throw,;ki&>es : with, decorous, gravity,v. but 'WfW r ,--.W-.•?* of ..relief that .they are actually ; . Blurted , and, alone. '.' TEe tail of - the train : ,6>res. a.paitmgwriggle round the "curve of tlio station, a nnal^screechi'rents the air, and the journey has'begun, •. ,The.,lfo.ther,(a.sound suspiciously like tears In her voice), .AVell, ; \, hav'e done it this ;once, :■ ; '?S>2-??? CT : J?ctiagainst',my^ v insfincts:: again. . • i -fihrin t.have a happy rnomcnt ti11.,1- got that telephone ;-i Tho Tather Look here, I didn't mean to .tell,,you, r -ibut ; .itr ; tnay:;cOmfort-ryou'-'a'''bit.-r.v. I •. guard. a r .shilhng,i. and ..asked •> him * to '.haye ~an;.<eyo.; to itthom "occasionally, • but :not ni® ir®"} l h We-.any/idea'he;.was doing -so.-.v; 'The' Mother. (who-; habitually/underpdys."her yabffleWi.lygaye.'lum'five 'shillings; .and 'asked him-the I"didn't' mean to'tell yon. 11 '■ ' - , i • ■-...''Tho-Father i'And'i^asked,-Norton,at-the.ilast jnst,to give, a'ddok;round at : Meadowvale sand BCe. 1 they got -'out -nil right. '-No',v, are.' you. happy? - - , , < , <The ,s(smiling - faintly) :- And I scribbledton a card and*gave'it to. tho:old- ladies ;4^^-ffie^il(lreri'siweroV'lsi^riß'' v iou, ; ;^ , ;,lean-out vof rthe'iwindow; •.they 1 ' would' speak" to him. " ' ,

F.atiier f.Yes,' there's'nothing .like l.teaoh--ing' indbpeudenco.', -We're- afbraw.. l couple,' ;.we lire."' \ .'• - '1. J '' ; 'V:'7 j-.V; ' TIIE REFRESHMENT QUESTION -s.Qiiy:" I'ni'.''sure:' it's *time Ho', havo refreshment- now;. Letty: y'/yy':' '^Ketty:(horrifie(l) Oh 1 ,; you'naughty'boy, .Guy. .'We've' 'only ''passed four stations, . 1 we've, .not gone,'more 'than tqn" minutes.:' V " .;-: ~* * : - Bfrt.-travelling makes you' hungry.' t"s:'mine ;'as'mucli'::as'yourkr", _ ;:' loug.as.llike. ..interfering.. with--your. I ; 'know ; ypu:ll rlo'se them ..if-' you' take- them - out ■so..often.,;.' ; : 'y-'^:] 's ! - '"£iuy : s le.t'sl;look., what' th'ey'ye '/packed: TJiat,.won't n hurt.' .;Thdn.Ve.can .think'ofit::;;'. . ..Lotpy,:. No; thank i yqiu-, :-I;. know!; you. . -If .'it lobkbd -nice you'd ,'siiatch..,; .H '-yy' ' Guy : I wouldn't. Drue's faith,-"true's breath,' true's'lifej ttue's deathV.- >.' '- : - Letty(whose, code.,compels her at 'once' to' acoept.this solemn' utterance):.-Well, I'll just lundo .one'.corner, .and youicaripeep. .-- --' -: : Giiy : (peering . into' the' basket with'• extreme I.anxiety): -.Egg 'sandwiches—don't.-like'-them. 'so '; much; ; : Unless—l : say, r'member,those'egg-i.ers-mother packed, us. timeiwe'-went to Cooma; : 'only - oMMartha-'was sent with us.. : : : :." - I ':.Letty. .-(with shining.'-eyes) :-Rather.'• Hidden- | , treasures'in :every:packM'Of:thein'. I've'got .my yot.'.'.': ; . ./-Guy: Come'- on, let's'look. " P'raps ; there are' lovely things; in. (A-; busy.five: minutes follow, m whioh the neatlv-wrapped sandwiches ' aro and there-in the'.basket by four little hands, but no treasures are discovered.). ■ ' Letty ;(cro?sly) : -Tfiko your 'hands-. out. Just look'; at;the •' nies's yoii'vo'. made' - of. the .things.: • Guy.:,. You did half. : . . '"-Xetty.'.i'lsdidn't 'ivant--. to: .: I ..knew' ,'ther.e wouldn't, botany.- Cooma i'-.a'long .way, that's why.. Stop it, Guy, you're-eating. Guy: I'm not.,- I*was.,only'licking, some butter. of? my'fingers; .- , '.-'Letty :'I can seo'crambs.round your mouth: 1 V Guy-: (unblushingly): 'I.'must ' have '-forgot to' :wipe'my-mouth aftpr. breakfast.'; -i '■■ ■■■ ; - : letty :.:.Well,-go-away.Let.go ; of. the!basket." :_;;Guy: Just:tliat'.brbken-one,' Lett—l'lhrno't asking: for,' any of -'-the good ones—just -.theV.. 1 old ■crumbly: ones.:: : v . ' Letty (scathingly): • Thanks to you they're fall old : crjiinbly ones. Go away. "I:-won't .let:you ■ have'a . No one" starts .'eating' till Penrith'.-. : ;,-r •:; Guy:. AIl right. It's your, fault. Don't blamo me.;''''';-".r "y:> - '-'Letty (anxioucly) :-.What are! you going to;db? ;/-Gu'y; (darkly);: That's .iuy;-:business.,'.' • Letty, (trying, to restore order in, the refresh<nent!basket, and 'equanimity-to'-herself).; .Thank goodness, - there's' nothing' much he can do here. "CJuy..(kneeling up on the scat,and leaning.well out;of-the'.window): ,It's;not my,fault.:.:Lotty (spnnging; : ..acr'6ss.' .arid, holding .on- to him):, Ohj,Guy,- Guy,-don't;- come m!. ■ , \ Tho Old Ladies (also raising, and agitatedly cltstching Kim): .You-naughy iittle>fcoy,!do v you want to. be killed? -i- .- v :' v- --' -,v;.- , !Giiy. (not.'.budging, an inch;.but speaking.over his'Bn<ralder):,-I've ;nothing, else' to -do.' " -.':old' Ladies (to .Letty); '.Whait,. does ho'.mean ?■ •" : : - . him have. the; refreshments, now... • • '. .%.01d/,::Ladie9::..oh, : pray, do—anything—any-" thirigito'.keep him. ont or. mischief.• i v--..'-:C:Leiny:(nTOny.:crying):: There'll by. w-e'veVgotJto'Penrith, j.lt's hot a' bit .proper 'i:V (who: have.vsevehtyyears' ex. ■psnenc.e.;pf:;.huj&n 'hiture: behin'd''. l them'i,-iii;'a M - hispCT) :,rLet 1 Him have -his'-.-own -way, my -love ,he:- i n-oa'fc 'w-anfc it. Boys :'are''like t-Kajt:.'/ And h'e/can't /have any: real:.appetite : ,yett. ■Give iin -ito- hiiiiV. ? ~;: 'Letty-;(inyplo'rii%]y) :''Oh, 'i-.'really;.cbuldn't:, He J .way. iLa'diw '-tdistractedljrJ-.ißut 'he!.is; in , danger, my dear .■ (Letty;:,'.l've got very.tight hold of-his'.l^.'' .:;:: : Guy.^(rather.',tira.d , 'of his crampedv-.po6i'tion, nothing -fo ( r,him): ;Hurrah;-|iere, : :cpincs':ft-.train!. .-.C,: .v.. ife^inSV":: Cpriie ;in ;i;yoU:can iiave' it;!>G'ut;^'iSii'nender3';the' I Ba9ket( into:''his. eag^r-'\

DIVERSIONS BY THE WAY. Ladies-', hare'Jad;, no Mother; se'rioui ;rtUmsi'-ibut;are:iV.littl« : :troubled',because..,tlie 'fronfiof- wetter, and'.wetter as tho ;journey procjpiis. -'-y'L ,-v.;■ -,'j'.'o-l - ~ .Guy::; Go .ph.','You're" as. dirty 1 as ,anything;-. ■ y : ilett3r?.^eU;^^7fl<ik't!':ca^e. r •• 'There's ' l&ts \ of ',fiiib,j-,-:.vvy.v;,..;-j'•' ■•I ': '.-:; '' , with a snap, oioly, .'ybtt'vei'got.'.to.'. press: it; with' your, finder.. 'And y.ou",screw: the,. tap. round.',U'ft's a.-jolly gc-od .way...wish vwo' had : .taps like:that; ait'l'ome; . : • iLefcty-'(quite.; unimpressed): - I'd rather; look out of the; window. • f. .' Guy: Go-on, Lett. -.'There's•.: an; awful smut down-youriiiCheek. i. -' ... yitftty '-(equably): J : know.' * I'm" 'saving tliem ' .'uj -tilr two ■stdtio'ns before iaunitie, and . I'll get. tliem. off all. .together. ; . ...Guy;.(persuasiyelj') : :'lt's nice. soap,'it,pan 1 'iell you77pink,' r and : 'smells'- like; itiytliing. ■ :..l£fey ",(wh'o ; ;somctimcs^"apes the; particular ways;of.growh-'ups).: J don't like" dirty soap,that 'eyqrypno s - been; -using. When, I: wash ■I, shall get-: my :.o\in - soap;; and; towel .out of .the, basket. ; :.Quy.:,,;-Afi r , ifsoap "coiild.: be .'.dirtylvVAnd-.the ,fowel..;is . ; awfully\ nice ,-t'pwel,V Government Railway . ; is ,011 .it' in . bliiei.Taiid.. thero's;.a,' red crb.wn;_.; : ;Go r ;''on.' .^You .'k'now/^inother;'likes . 'us ;tt>.:be nice;. :; ; v .; I'LetVy: ;,'I; tellvypu :I'm;'- notgoing; ■to -,-wash. -Nqw-le(;.jme.: alone.- ,I'm counting telegraph posts, .and I,was .up . to seven,. hundred and jbirteeii \rten-'yoii;int«rrupted. : lhe..-.;.; >'iyia:')eigktb7abln<Hra''in'rtbr.BaMn;.t]iai!>]iasvfaß-'' ciiiated.h'ini)'."- . ..... . 'oldiladies; slumber 'occasionally,', and' ocjwake.',' One of them' suffers- from . the' fot'ni'.'of: deafness.- that ;!cah ■ hear -/perfectly* in':- a vibrating 'atpibsphere. - ; .She'finds ■ herself '.quite luhable.'Vhiweyer.r to, obtain ;'a' clue to.-.the tot lowing conversation:— r : Guy : Ten purple, women and four -piebalds, what, are you? ' ■■■;. : ■ . " - :Xetty:-'Seven green .men .and, six tan " portmanteaux..,-. .... ' ; ■::■■■■ -Gily': for .you. ;cbmm~pu;';'old; .'portmanteaux. £%. can;:, tell'.'you. Harder/. -.' >' ■'■Letty. At 'all:events,-I..don't cneat :That wasn't i a .piebald at Emu. Plains; '•it was. only a: brown horse .with a whito rug on it. "Guy: .It wasn't. I, saw the .-spots." "I didn't countvthpi, the and,l'm..pretty •sure, it ;was.'.'.l'd-be,five. ■'; y.!.-1 ■ a-lot,- harder than you'd .think. It's,all telescope •, baskets'. and -.tin \ trunks!,'■: • ■■ ;Guy-: '.Here's: a : station. coming. •rl ■ say, a s girl •- - V'v • :.I^tty>.:.;; i \Vslli: , ::.theu,' .1, , shall . count men if .they've [ got "flower,.'.buttonholes—there :*arßv'-al-wavs'.lcaves. m':them. ... J/: ■ Guy:/ Green's very.,easy.. ; I; : think ; striked 'tire ■ and; in' rugs' and clothes.-; 'got; 'the'.guard,' -cms® 'he; had green . eyes.'- -No one,-has.purple:eyes. (He-looks discontentedly at; the': old' Indies,; who. are '• disobliging - enough •to have blue.) ■ . ,;The iDeaf Old, Lady (desperately): -My dea'r cdildren, what ,on • .earth, . are. you' - talking iabout?! i -i!,.V' choose:.anything :you,; lik&rrsay ;iiian, ■inth,''aDything . grMn " .Von them..: And everyone .you see counts' one. AVe do two at,a time each, because in trains it's slower than .trams.- : But.-you get mixed in your . counting sometimes. Brown- and white .piebalds can't be added. to green ladies, you've got to keep them 'quite; seprit.' Then- at tie end tho one who 'has the most has won. I'm he':is.;catcKng me up in' purples. Guy (stubbornly): Piebalds are harder. ,(Excitedly;'.as they a-station): '■'Tyfive,- 'ty-six, 'ty-sovon. ■ . .■ . . ;. :\ I Lotty: You're not.. .There are.only two with purple there.- " "" :, ~ .■. • Guv: That ono there with the -bag—sho lifted, her dress up, and she's got a purple petticoat. - "L'y-oight,' 'ty-hine.. : : -Lotty:-'-Fifteen,' sixteen,, sovonteen—my word, this -.is a -good ;station../ Oh,. I, wish .luggage wouldn't';.go by so fast,' I ? m : sure' thero '■ was a tau under that-trunk. : . '. . The Deaf Old Lady (entering into the spirit of .the game): Ivinsh wo had ■brought our tan portmanteaux. Just at' the -last wo.- chose our. blatks,; bccause the. straps .of -.the. others wore' broken. ,That would have been two'moro, wouldn't it, live?., - ' Guy (forlornly):. Hadn't you any piebalds you could have brought? Lotty gets' eyorytlling.'- • / . ■ : ■ THE AEEIVAL. ■' iln the' excitement. of tho: game Letty: forgets :.to;.wash-two'.stations before Mcadowvale,' and - arrives ? with,; the",', awful smut ,thnt'. Guy - had condemned,; and others to keep ' it '.cbinpany.-J;'' But . these Vin Ino way. 'seemed! to chills .the welcome; of tho . aunt and sundry cousms: who'aro waiting eagerly, on' the. plat•form. ;' i:• ■' ■ iGuy . ( (bcforo.' the. carnage door is open): ' I -came; all ; the.jway ,'quite alone, auntie. •

Letty: .So did I, auntie. No one minded us:onel bit. vl had the-'frcshmont basket. - .Guy: I: had the tickets, auntio—she has no pockets. ■ Auntio .(mischievously): The " question is, •Guj.; Of course L have., (Thrusts his .hand m • his breast: pocket and bringsout two bits of/Cardboard sodden with "\vater,/regards them ruefully a moment, '/then;: mail-like, puts the blame :on the Government.); . Silly stuff , they make tickets of. 7 ..Letty;. I. vrinncd:.the. game, auntio. . I was up .to: forty _ portmanteaux, and the ladies in the. train said-thoy"would.have• brought theirs if; they'had .known. I '. . . /' C"uy --Xienl oiiely)They had. ho piebalds, or they d:;huvo'brought them'for mo 1 Lotty; .Mother .bays—Mother savs, auntieMother says— :.'A\intio: .Well, what does slip sar? . Lotty.(wrinkling her forehead): 1 can't think. t!ive,:you her love, and she hopes you're quite well.' ;Wasn't there something.else, Guy? Oh, this-'-shilling..- V; . Auiitio: The shilling! , . . .Guy.;.l've-got.it,.auntie. . She-has no pockets. (J?ishes,.'a;shilling;out.of,the pocket and hands it to his . aunt:) ' 1 • . Aunt: What is'this for? ■ ' ;;iifettie: For 'you.: From' mother.- - ' .Aunt': 'But I; don't* .'understand. ' What is it fqr? \. • ' . ' - • ■ • ■ .-Letty (doubtfully): 'P'raps to'buy yourself a pres-ent- with. 1. . .Giiy!.(struck...with,sudden memory): I 1 know -rit.,was'>'to. givo/ the guard.. (Rushes .to the guard!; and thrusts Jshilling Mrito;-'-his hand as nearly.-intlib.-way as ihe. has,'seen his father dp as.possible.) : . ;■. ; . . , ..-The;Guard:."Hello, whafs this for? ... Giiy..' (ai.little, red in 1 the ' face): From mother. . The Guard: That's all right. (To porter): 'Nice kids. I'.vo looked after them all the Iway. .'-.Jolly youngsters. * Nice family altogether. Lots,of tin. i Letty-;.- (tearing frantically up, to him): My -brother.gave,yon the shilling in mistake. Oh, would-yon; mind giving: it . back' to, us? It is for the telephone; man: I'vo . just remembered. Oh, I don't know what I'll do if you don't give it back; to 'us;' Mother is so anxious. : Guy .leans out of the windows so dreadfully, and I want to' tellher.'he's-safe.. r Guard (promptly disbursing): Quite so; quite l so; wo all make mistakes,'don't we? Go and ring ,'that'nice mother .of, yours np. Letty (in a tone of passionate gratitude): Oh, thank-you; thank you- bo much.