y that let all kinds of ugly parrots and cats and babies travel
free!"

A timid little lady, the only other occupant of the carriage, ventured
to suggest that the dog travelling free was against the rules of the
company.

"I am quite aware of that," said the late passenger somewhat sharply,
"but if people choose to make unjust and oppressive rules I don't mean
to submit to them. Just think of a parrot, a horrid shrieking creature
that every one acknowledges to be a nuisance, being allowed to travel
free, or a baby, which is enough to drive one distracted when it
squalls, as it always does in a railway carriage, while my sweet little
pet that annoys nobody must be paid for, forsooth!"

"It does indeed seem unreasonable," responded the timid little old lady;
"but don't you think that the company has a perfect right to make
whatever rules it pleases, and that we are bound to obey them when we
make use of their line?"

"No, I don't!" said the late passenger tartly.

The timid little lady thought it advisable to change the subject and did
so by remarking that the dog was a very pretty creature. Upon which the
late passenger thawed at once, admitted that it _was_ a _very_ pretty
creature, and asserted in addition that it was a "perfect darling."

Their conversation became miscellaneous and general after this point,
and not worth reporting, therefore we shall get out at the window and
pass along the foot-boards to the carriage occupied by Mrs Durby and
her friends.

Immediately after the train had started, as before described, Captain
Lee entered into an animated conversation with the nurse as to the
health of the Tipps family. Edwin, who was much interested in them,
listened and put in a word now and then, but neither he nor the captain,
after the first glance, paid any attention to the other occupants of the
carnage.

Meanwhile Thomson, Jenkins and Company spent a short time in taking a
quiet observation of the state of affairs. The former had placed
himself opposite to Edwin and eyed him over critically as a wrestler
might eye his opponent; Jenkins had seated himself opposite the captain,
who had been apportioned to him in the coming conflict, and Smith, who,
although a stout enough fellow, was the smallest of the three, kept his
eye on the coveted bag, and held himself in readiness to act as might be
advisable. The scoundrels were not long in taking action.

As soon as they were quite clear of the suburbs o