sively, and the
four stand chatting about old times and friends and the state of the
crops. After a while, the engine-driver, during a pause in the
conversation, looks at his watch, and says he is afraid he must be going,
but the station-master's wife won't hear of it.

"Oh, you must stop and see the children," she says. "They will be home
from school soon, and they'll be so disappointed if they hear you have
been here and gone away again. Lizzie will never forgive you."

The engine-driver and the stoker laugh, and say that under those
circumstances they suppose they must stop; and they do so.

Meanwhile the booking-clerk has introduced the guard to his sister, and
such a very promising flirtation has been taking place behind the
ticket-office door that it would not be surprising if wedding-bells were
heard in the neighbourhood before long.

The second guard has gone down into the town to try and sell a dog, and
the passengers stroll about the platform and smoke, or partake of a light
meal in the refreshment-room--the poorer classes regaling themselves upon
hot sausage, and the more dainty upon soup. When everybody appears to be
sufficiently rested, a move onward is suggested by the engine-driver or
the guard, and if all are agreeable to the proposal the train starts.

Tremendous excitement was caused during our journey between Heidelberg
and Darmstadt by the discovery that we were travelling in an express
train (they called it an "express:" it jogged along at the rate of twenty
miles an hour when it could be got to move at all; most of its time it
seemed to be half asleep) with slow-train tickets. The train was stopped
at the next station and B. was marched off between two stern-looking
gold-laced officials to explain the matter to a stern-looking gold-laced
station-master, surrounded by three stern-looking gold-laced followers.
The scene suggested a drum-head court-martial, and I could see that B.
was nervous, though outwardly calm and brave. He shouted back a
light-hearted adieu to me as he passed down the platform, and asked me,
if the worst happened, to break it gently to his mother.

However, no harm came of it, and he returned to the carriage without a
stain upon his character, he having made it clear to the satisfaction of
the court--firstly, That he did not know that our tickets were only
slow-train tickets; secondly, That he was not aware that we were not
travelling by a slow train; and thirdly, Tha