Year: 1873

ly seventeen years and q quaTter-I
was alone in the wide, wide world; ia
be precise, in that bit of it which lies
between the Paddington station and
Bath. had all but missed the train,
SO that my uncle had only time to
hurry me into a first-class carriage
wherein q solitary lady was already
seated, and to give me a solemn in
junction to get Aunt Margery to tele-
graph when L "turned up all right u
before the train dashed away.


"All rightw OF course / should be
ali right should think, at seven
teen and nearly quarter, I might be
trusted to take care of myself during
three hours journey; the more so as
my uncle had "put me in at one endi'
and my aunt would "take me out at
the other"


As soon as / had arranged myself
and my belongings comfortably in
my corner L took a survey of my fell
low-passenger-a grim, iron-gray old
woman in an eXasperating old bon-
net, who was looking, not daggers-
that is much too POINTED and brilliant
slmile-but rusty nails of the Jag
gedest description, OF my poor little
hat; such an attractive one as it was,
too, with the most piquant little wax
wing Imaginable brOoding over il
with Outstretched wings. For my
part, think, when one has a pretty
face, it Is wicked to spoil it by dow
dy hat. / should have attracted much
more attention if l had worn an ex-
asperating extinguisher like nv fell
low travellers, with an aggrayating
bow at the top; and, besides, Tom
would not have liked it.


1 was 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 station, or at all events, at some
distance from Bath. Alb, how little ]
knew what was coming, or 1 should
have felt glad to have had her eIarinp
twice as grimly from the oppotite
seat


Travelling alone?"


"Yes.n


What an unnecessary question, ]
thought.


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


/ meekly y answered that my youth
and prettiness were 'faults' over
which 1 had no control, and hinted al
the possibility that time might be ex.
pected to cure both, if only 1 lived
long enough.


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


awhile waiting for that, you should
have somebody to take care of YOU. u


'Take care of meW I exclaimed,
with little shudder of disgust. "I
am quite able to tSke care of myself
indeed, I am tired of being taken care
of. 1 am almost worn out. Besides,
1 have been at two garden parties, and
haye long left the school-room" with
dignity.)


"My dear, the schoo.-room would
be the best place for you ior the next
half-doZen years I must leave you
at the next stStion, 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 IL
on, would never get safely through
this world"


The train stopped; helped her to
SalGCI al HC1 D1SS OuU rugs.


Goodbye, my dear; your little
face has made the day look brighter
to an old woman; SO you have 10y
leave to keep it unchanged as long as
you ean," and she actually patted my
cheek with Kind old hand as she
passed out.


watched her take her place in a
little basket carriage that was wait
ing for her-watching 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 / returned her
goodbye nod. when the carriage NOV.
ed out of sight down a shady country
road. 1 followed her in fancy to 8
fiowery country home, where 1 felt
cure that she lived costly with old
servants, quaint furniture, and old
pet dogs, and cats, and birds. How
little then thought that one day ]
should: But 1 forget; we must
not anticipate, as real authors say
that must come in its own place;
had not even seen Tom, then.


The train had stopped at quiet lit
tie station and was just beginning to
move on past the roses and holly
hooks, 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 ne was a "cad;n
and, if q "cad" is an odiOus, vulgar,
red-haired person, with unwashed
hands covered with coarse rings, 9
sky-blue satin tie, and an overoower-
ling odor of bad tobacco know the
difference quite well, for Tom never
smokes any but the best Maniilas, and
quite enjoy the smell-then most
decidedly he was rightly designated.


I saw all this at a single glance, as
one does sometimes, and bent steadi.
Iy over my book, wishing that the
hour which would bring me to dear
Aunt Margery was over. Presently
was reading something so amusing
that [ had forgotten everything be-
side. The train had left the little sta
ton far behind, and was going at full
speed, when suddenly hOrrid voice
close to my ear made me start, and
looked up to see the "cad's" hideoul
face close to miDe-such 3 wicked
lIaarinO facet