off duty some six or eight weeks. The fireman escaped without a
scratch, and, as the coupling of the leading carriage broke, the train
didn't leave the metals, and no serious damage was done to any one else.
I think our Gertie," continued Will, laying his big strong hand gently
on the child's head, "seems to have taken an ill-will to railways since
then."

"I'm not surprised to hear it," observed Emma Lee, as she bent down and
kissed Gertie's forehead. "I have once been in a railway accident
myself, and I share your dislike; but I fear that we couldn't get on
well without them now, so you and I must be content to tolerate them,
Gertie."

"I s'pose so," was Gertie's quiet response, delivered, much to the
amusement of her audience, with the gravity and the air of a grown
woman.

"Well, good-evening, Gertie, good-evening," said Netta, turning to
Garvie; "then I may tell my nurse that the engine-driver of the express
will take care of her."

"Yes, ma'am, you may; for the matter o' that, the fireman of the express
will keep an eye on her too," said the gallant William, touching his cap
as the two friends left that bright oasis in the desert and returned to
Eden Villa.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

TREATS OF RAILWAY LITERATURE, SLEEPY PORTERS, CROWDED PLATFORMS, FOOLISH
PASSENGERS, DARK PLOTTERS, LIVELY SHAWLS, AND OTHER MATTERS.

John Marrot was remarkably fond of his iron horse. No dragoon or hussar
that we ever read of paid half so much attention to his charger. He not
only rubbed it down, and fed and watered it at stated intervals, but,
when not otherwise engaged, or when awaiting the signal to start a
train, he was sure to be found with a piece of waste rubbing off a speck
of dust here or a drop of superfluous oil there, or giving an extra
polish to the bright brasses, or a finishing touch to a handle or lever
in quite a tender way. It was evidently a labour of love!

On the day which Mrs Durby had fixed for her journey to London, John
and his fireman went to the shed as usual one hour before the time of
starting, being required to do so by the "Rules and Regulations" of the
company, for the purpose of overhauling the iron horse.

And, by the way, a wonderful and suggestive volume was this book of
"Rules and Regulations for the guidance of the officers and servants of
the Grand National Trunk Railway." It was a printed volume of above two
hundred pages, containing minute directions in regard to every
departm