is time in
the morning my better nature was asleep.

I have often read of a man's better nature being suddenly awakened. The
business is generally accomplished by an organ-grinder or a little child
(I would back the latter, at all events--give it a fair chance--to awaken
anything in this world that was not stone deaf, or that had not been dead
for more than twenty-four hours); and if an organ-grinder or a little
child had been around Ostend station that morning, things might have been
different.

B. and I might have been saved from crime. Just as we were in the middle
of our villainy, the organ-grinder or the child would have struck up, and
we should have burst into tears, and have rushed from the carriage, and
have fallen upon each other's necks outside on the platform, and have
wept, and waited for the next train.

As it was, after looking carefully round to see that nobody was watching
us, we slipped quickly into the carriage, and, making room for ourselves
among the luggage there, sat down and tried to look innocent and easy.

B. said that the best thing we could do, when the other people came,
would be to pretend to be dead asleep, and too stupid to understand
anything.

I replied that as far as I was concerned, I thought I could convey the
desired impression without stooping to deceit at all, and prepared to
make myself comfortable.

A few seconds later another man got into the carriage. He also made room
for himself among the luggage and sat down.

"I am afraid that seat's taken, sir," said B. when he had recovered his
surprise at the man's coolness. "In fact, all the seats in this carriage
are taken."

"I can't help that," replied the ruffian, cynically. "I've got to get to
Cologne some time to-day, and there seems no other way of doing it that I
can see."

"Yes, but so has the gentleman whose seat you have taken got to get
there," I remonstrated; "what about him? You are thinking only of
yourself!"

My sense of right and justice was beginning to assert itself, and I felt
quite indignant with the fellow. Two minutes ago, as I have explained, I
could contemplate the taking of another man's seat with equanimity. Now,
such an act seemed to me shameful. The truth is that my better nature
never sleeps for long. Leave it alone and it wakens of its own accord.
Heaven help me! I am a sinful, worldly man, I know; but there is good at
the bottom of me. It wants hauling up, but it's there.

This m