Year: 1871

p year to receive our dividends, to buy an,


special article Of dress we needed, and e


feast our eyes on the tempting beauties dis.


played in the shop windows. This had been


plan Of our dear fathers and during tho


London day We often spoke Of him-how sur.


prlsed he would have been at this alteration.
or that improvement, or how pleased to see
something which drew forth our wonder or
admiration On this particular occasion, Pam


had been staying with friend Of ours at Pen.
tonyillo, and We agreed that we should meet
TO DO our business, spend the day, and return
nome together in the evening. / alway felt
quite knocked up after one Of those davs
but we could not accept our friends invita-.
ton to stay the night, as we had a return
ticket Travelling is expensive, and Pam
SAID our position obliged us to 90 first class.
Dear dear have sometimes been led to
ask myself why money and position do not
always 90 together The one is very trying
without the other The many things we have
been obliged to do, and also to 10 without.
because it would not become our position !
ram would never hear Of charwoman, but
we must have a servant. And, really, girls
have enormous appetites, and very ungratefu
dispositions, or our Susan never could have
said We were mean But perhaps I'm hard
ON the poor thing. Had she known how
often Pam and declared to each other we
couldn't eat another morsel-thourh far from
being satisfied order that she might have
a good dinner, She would not, think, have
said we were mean


But to return to the morning on which |
was to 90 TO London alone. Five minutes to
. the train was to start; but | was so afraid of
not being in time that | was ready at half
past l. It being ridiculous 10 leave home at
that hour, took up book mot that could
read, either, because Of the unpleasant feeling
that | might forget something which Pam
would be certain to ask for 8 O'Clock struck.
1t would only take twenty minutes TO walk
slowly to the station, and had then half an
hour to spore No matter, | would start at
the quarter past, in case of accidents And
very fortunate thing it was did start for
had passed Bulls cross when discovered
had no pocket handkerchief. However. had
time to hurry back and put one in my pocket.
Ah how little thought that that triaing
incident woud be the means of bringing about
the great event of my life


When | reached the platform looked
about, but saw nobody knew. The guard
put me into an empty carriage aud though
several Of our gentlemen passed they only
nodded " good morning SO alone start
ed but not to remain alone long, for at every
station people got in and got out, until we
reached Chingford. Here | thought was
goin to he left by myself again, but, Just as
the train was moving of, a mddle-aged gem
tleman rushed up. The guard opened the
door Of my carriage, and he was obliged to
jump in, making use, as thought, Of such
an improper expression, that if Pamela had
been there she would have certainly given
him in charge. But our ears often deceive
US. have since found out that he merely
remarked on finding a lady alone, dame
Seale." Still at the time | felt rather indie-
nant and looked at the offender with some
curiosity. He was very thin, tall man,
and so oddly dressed, that began to feel
little uncomfortable aud wish some one else
was in the carriage with me. Why should
he wear white trousers The day was not
warm. Were they made of duck or Jean
| suppose | must have been scanning this
garb, for presently he said in a loud voice:


" Well, madam, may | ask if you see any
thing peculiar in my dress, that you are hon.
oring 1t with so much attention ?"


really thought | must have sunk through
the scat Of the carriage Oh if Pamela
had been there | trd to stamlser out an
apology, and he waved his hand with what
seemed an ironcal leer, saying, 4" Oh, no of.
Tense no offense." Well, what, with my con.
fusion and annoyance was ready to faint.
| felt must have little air, so without
thought pulled down the window. In an
instant he fired out again


4" Bless me, madam, you are quite at lib
erty to commit suicide, of course, but you
don't want to commit murder too ?"


Murder suicide Oh dear, dear, what
should | do ? would the train never reach the
next station He must have seen my terror
for he said


There there don't look as if you thought
| was mad but if you suffered from rheuma.
tlsm as ] do, madam, you'd look upon per
son who put you in draughtas as your natural
enemy"


| certainly felt devoutly thankful now that
Pamela was not with me, or there would have
been quite scene. We stopped once more
and took in two ladies aud a gentleman. The
train moved on, and soon | heard my gruf
neighbor tut.tutting, aud muttering something
he would do to somebody, when | discovered
that his nose was beginning TO bleed and be
was searching yainly in his pocket for hand.
kerchiei. | must confess my first feeling was
not one OF sorrow for him. He had been
what considered offensive to me -an unpro-
tected female with nobody to retaliate for her
but then | remembered how near I had been
in similar plight to his had not started
at the time did, | should have been minus a
handkerchief too. nyoluntarily put nv
hand in my pocket. Yes, there it lay neatly
folded up but would not take it out to
make matters worse by unnecessary display
At this time the poor gentleman was obliged
to put his head out of the window The la
dies exchanged looks expressive Of anything
but pleasure the young man eyed him with
a stare Of the most profound indifference, as
If it were the usual thing to travel with peo-
pie who choose that their noses should bleed
and he did not desire TO interfere with him,