Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-23
felt too miserable to argue. She asked

felt too miserable to argue. She asked
| him the time.
At last the train came in. There was
great rafting OF milk cans on tn,
gloomy platform, and various slouching
shapes entered third-class carriages. The
wanderers had the only first-class COM
partment to themselves. 1t struck cold
| and noisome, like peculiarly unaired
feet was dimmed by the swishing. dirty
oil in the bottom of the globe gave a pre-
tense at illumination. The guard, pass ng
by the window, turned his lantern on
them and paused for a wondering mo-
ment. Were they a runaway couple? II
repentance. AS they looked too dismal
. for tips, he concerned himself with them
no more. The train started. Emmy
shook with cold. In spite OF her fur-lined
and spread 1t over their two bodies rs
they huddled together for warmth. After
q while her head dropped on his shoulder
and she slept, while Septimus sucked his
empty pipe. not daring to light 1t. lest he
should disturb her slumbers. For the
original awkward attitude, and In conse-
Quence suffered ag0nies Of pins and nee
dies To have q solid young woman
asleep in your arms is not the romantic
she might just as well stand on your
head. Also. as Emmy unconsciously
drew the overcoat away from him. one
side Of his body persisted with cold; and
a dinner suit is not WARM enough for
travelling on frosty morning.
The thought of his dinner jacket re-
minded him Of his puzziedom. What were
Emmy and himself doing in that galley
OF q railway carriage when they might
have been so much more comfortable IN
their own beds in Nunsmere? It was an
impenetrable mystery to which the sleep
ing girl. who was causing him such acute
though cheerfuliy borne discomfort. alone
had the key. In vain did he PROFOUND to
himself the theory that such speculation
he ask himaelf with unwonted severity
betokened an indicate mind: in vain did
what bus ness 1t was of his: In vain did
he try to bitch his thoughts to patent
safety railway carriages. which were CIV
ing him great deal OF trouble: In vain
did he try to sleep. The question haunted
him. So much 50 that when Emmy
awoke and rubbed her eyes, ana In some
confusion apologized for the use to which
she had put his shoulder. he was almost
ashamed to look her in the face.
/ What are you going to do when you
get to Victorian" Emmy asked.
Septimus had not thought Of 1t. "Go
back to Nunsrnere, suppose. by the next
train-unless you want me-"
mo, I don't want you" said Emmy.
absently. "Why should ~
And she gazed stonily at the suburban
murk of the great city until they reached
Victoria. There a detected four-wheeied
cab with a dropping horse stood solitary
on the rank-a depressing object. Emmy
sh'vered at the sight.
II can't stand it. Drive me to my door.
I know I'm q beast, Septimus. dear. but
I am grateful. am, really"
The cab received them into tts musty
interior and drove them through the
foggy brown OF a London winter dawn.
Unimaginable cheerlessness enyeloped
them. The world wore an air OF disgust
at having to get up on such a morning.
The atmosphere for thirty yards around
them was clear enough, with the clear
ness of yellow consomme. but ahead it
stood thick, like PURGE OF bad vege-
tables. They passed through Belgravia,
and the white-blnded houses gave an i'm
preseion of universal death. and the
empty streets seemed waiting for the