passengers. This prohibition,
however, does not prevent their taking very thankfully the shillings or
sixpences[A] that are often offered them, particularly by Americans,
who, being strangers in the country, and not understanding the customs
very well, think that they require a little more attention than others,
and so are willing to pay a little extra fee. It is, however, contrary
to the rules of the station for the porters to receive any thing; and,
if they take it at all, they try to do it as secretly as possible. I
once knew a traveller who offered a porter a shilling openly on the
platform; but the porter, observing a policeman near, turned round with
his side to the gentleman, and, holding his hand open behind him, with
the back of it against his hip and his fingers moving up and down
briskly in a beckoning manner, said,--

"We are not allowed to take it, sir--we are not allowed to take it."

[A] Whenever shillings or sixpences are mentioned in this book, English
coin is meant. As a general rule, each English denomination is of double
the value of the corresponding American one. Thus the English penny is a
coin as large as a silver dollar, and it is worth two of the American
pennies. The shilling is of the value of a quarter of a dollar; and a
sixpence is equal to a New York shilling.

* * * * *

As Mr. George stepped out upon the platform at the London Bridge station
his first thought was to find Rollo, who had chosen to come in a
second-class car, partly for the purpose of saving the difference in the
fare, and partly, as he said, "for the fun of it." Rollo had a regular
allowance from his father for his travelling expenses, sufficient to pay
his way in the first-class conveyances; and the understanding was, that
whatever he should save from this sum by travelling in the cheaper modes
was to be his own for pocket money or to add to his reserved funds.

Mr. George and Rollo soon found each other on the platform.

"Well, Rollo," said Mr. George, "and how do you like travelling cheap?"

"Pretty well," said Rollo; "only I could not see out much; but then I
have saved six shillings in coming from Dover. That is the same as
twelve New York shillings--a dollar and a half. I can buy several pretty
things with that to carry home."

"That's very true," said Mr. George.

"Some time I mean to go in the fourth-class car," said Rollo. "'Tis true
we have to stand up all the time like sh