Mr. R.—"May I ask why?"
Miss G., more faintly still.—"I don't like to tell. I"—
Mr. R., coming and standing in front of her, with his hands in his pockets.—"Look me in the eye, Lucy!" She drops her veil over her face, and looks up at him. "Did you—did you expect to findmeon this train?"
Miss G.—"I was afraid it neverwouldget along,—it was so late!"
Mr. R.—"Don't—tergiversate."
Miss G.—"Don'twhat?"
Mr. R.—"Fib."
Miss G.—"Not for worlds!"
Mr. R.—"How did you know I was in this car?"
Miss G.—"Must I? I thought I saw you through the window; and then I made sure it was you when I went to pin my veil on,—I saw you in the mirror."
Mr. R., after a little silence.—"Miss Galbraith, do you want to know whatyouare?"
Miss G., softly.—"Yes, Allen."
Mr. R.—"You're a humbug!"
Miss G., springing from her seat, and confronting him.—"So are you! You pretended to be asleep!"
Mr. R.—"I—I—I was taken by surprise. I had to take time to think."
Miss G.—"So did I."
Mr. R.—"And you thought it would be a good plan to get your polonaise caught in the window?"
Miss G., hiding her face on his shoulder.—"No, no, Allen! That I neverwilladmit.Nowoman would!"
Mr. R.—"O, I dare say!" After a pause: "Well, I am a poor, weak, helpless man, with no one to advise me or counsel me, and I have been cruelly deceived. How could you, Lucy, how could you? I can neverget over this." He drops his head upon her shoulder.
Miss G., starting away again and looking about the car.—"Allen, I have an idea! Do you suppose Mr. Pullman could be induced tosellthis car?"
Mr. R.—"Why?"
Miss G.—"Why, because I think it's perfectly lovely, and I should like to live in it always. It could be fitted up for a sort of summer-house, don't you know, and we could have it in the garden, and you could smoke in it."
Mr. R.—"Admirable! It would look just like a travelling photographic saloon. No, Lucy, we won't buy it; we will simply keep it as a precious souvenir, a sacred memory, a beautiful dream,—and let it go on fulfilling its destiny all the same."
Porter, entering and gathering up Miss Galbraith's things.—"Be at Schenectady in half a minute, miss. Won't have much time."
Miss G., rising and adjusting her dress, and then looking about the car, while she passes her hand through her lover's arm.—"O, I dohateto leave it. Farewell, you dear, kind, good, lovely car! May you never haveanother accident!" She kisses her hand to the car, upon which they both look back as they slowly leave it.
Mr. R., kissing his hand in like manner.—"Good-bye, sweet chariot! May you never carry any but bridal couples!"
Miss G.—"Or engaged ones!"
Mr. R.—"Or husbands going home to their wives!"
Miss G.—"Or wives hastening to their husbands."
Mr. R.—"Or young ladies who have waited one train over, so as to be with the young men they hate."
Miss G.—"Or young men who are so indifferent that they pretend to be asleep when the young ladies come in!" They pause at the door and look back again. "'And must I leave thee, Paradise?'" They both kiss their hands to the car again, and their faces being very close together, they impulsively kiss each other. Then Miss Galbraith throws back her head, and solemnly confronts him. "Only think, Allen! If this car hadn't brokenitsengagement, we might never have mended ours."
Transcriber's note:Various punctuation errors were corrected.P.18. 'lettting' changed to 'letting'.P.222. 'supicious' changed to 'suspicious'.The title page is being used as a cover when needed.
Transcriber's note:
Various punctuation errors were corrected.P.18. 'lettting' changed to 'letting'.P.222. 'supicious' changed to 'suspicious'.
The title page is being used as a cover when needed.