Year: 1873

u " n


For the first time in my life-nearly
seventeen years and quarter-I was
alone in the wide, wide world; to be
precise, in that bit of it which lies be-
tween the Paddington station and Bath.
had all but missed the train, so that
my uncle had only time to hurry me
into first-class carriage, wherein SOL
itary lady was already seated, and to
give me q solemn injunction to get Aunt
Margery to telegraph when 'turned
up all right" before the train dashed
away.


"All right" OF course 1 should be
all right [ should think, at seventeen
and nearly quarter, 1 might be trust
ed to take care of myself during three
hours journey; the more so as my uncle
had "put me in at one end" and nv
aunt would "take me out at the other"


AS soon as had arranged myself and
my belongings comfortably in my cor
ner took survey of my fellow-pas-
senger-a grim, iron-gray old woman
IN an exasperating bonnet, who was
looking, not daggers-that is much too
pointed and brilliant simile-but rus
ty nails of the jaggedest description, at
my poor little hat; such an attractive
one as it was, too, with the most piquant
little wax-wing imaginable brooding
over 1t with outstretched wings. For
my part, 1 think, when one has pretty
face, it is wicked to spoil it by dowdy
hat; I should have attracted much
more attention if 1 had worn an exas-
perating extinguisher like my fellow
travellers, with an aggravating bow at
the top; and, besides, Tom would not
have liked it.


Twas rapidly losing my temper-it
was too provoking. Here was some
body evidently just as ready to find
fault and take care of me as anybody at
home. My only comfort was a hope
that she might get out at the next sta
tlon, or at all events at some distance
from Bath. All, how little knew what
was coming, or I should have felt glad
to have had her glaring twice as grimly
from the opposite seat!


Travelling alone?"


eyes"


What an unnecessary question, I
thought.


" You are much too young and too
pretty to be permitted to do So


meekly answered that my youth and
prettiness were faults over which I
had no control, and limited at the pos
sibility that time might be expected to
cure both, if only I lived long enough.


She smiled--yes, really; not a bad
smile, either.


While waiting for that, you should
have. somebody to take care of YOU"


"Take care of me /" I exclaimed,
with a little shudder of disgust. "I
am quite able to take care of myself
indeed, am tired of being taken care
of. [ am almost worn out. Besides.
have been at two garden parties, and
have long left the school-room with
dignity.


"My dear, the school-room would be
the best place for you for the next half
dozen years. I must leave you at the
next station, but will tell the guard to
look after you. You will learn in time
how good thing it is to be cared for.
Una without her lion would never get
safely through this world"


The train stopped I helped her to
gather all her bags and rugs.


Good-by, my dear your little face
has made the day look brighter to an
old woman SO you have my leave to
keep it unchanged as long as you can, !"
and she actually patted my cheek with
kind old hand as she passed out.


l watched her take her place in lit
tie basket carriage that was waiting for
her-watched the old bald-headed man
servant stand, hat in hand, evidently
giving her all the story of life at home
in her absence-and felt sorry, as I re-
turned her good-by nod, when the car
riage moved out of sight down shady
country road. I followed her in fancy
to fowery country home, where felt
sure that she lived cozily with old SER
wants, quaint furniture, and old pet
dogs, cats, and birds. How little I then
thought that one day I should. But
[ forget; we must not anticipate, as
real authors say-that must come in it's
own place had not even seen Tom,
then.


The train had just stopped at quiet
little station and was Just beginning to
move on past the roses and hollyhocks,
when the door suddenly swung open,
and q man jumped in. One glance
satisfied me that he would not improve
on acquaintance. Tom has told me
since that he was "cad :" and, if a
"cad is an odious, vulgar, red-haired
person, with unwashed hands covered
with coarse rings, sky-blue satin tie,
and an overpowering odor of bad to-
bacco-I know the difference quite
well, for Tom never smokes any but the
very best Manilas, and I quite enjoy the
smell-then most decidedly he was
rightly designated.


I saw all this at single glance, as
one does sometimes, and bent steadily
over my book, wishing that the hour
which would bring me to dear aunt
Margery was over. Presently I was
reading something so amusing that I
had forgotten everything beside. The
train had left the little station far be-
hind, and was going at full spead, when
suddenly horrid voice close to my ear
made me start and looked nm IN aaa