by the last express; and it was this obstinacy that, in
proof of Isabel's wisdom, obliged them to wait two hours in the station
before going by the land route. The storm abated at five o'clock, and
though the rain continued, it seemed well by a quarter of seven to set
out for the Old Colony Depot, in sight of which a sudden and vivid flash
of lightning caused Isabel to seize her husband's arm, and to implore
him, "O don't go by the boat!" On this, Basil had the incredible
weakness to yield; and bade the driver take them to the Worcester Depot.
It was the first swerving from the ideal in their wedding journey, but
it was by no means the last; though it must be confessed that it was
early to begin.

They both felt more tranquil when they were irretrievably committed by
the purchase of their tickets, and when they sat down in the waiting.
room of the station, with all the time between seven and nine o'clock
before them. Basil would have eked out the business of checking the
trunks into an affair of some length, but the baggage-master did his
duty with pitiless celerity; and so Basil, in the mere excess of his
disoccupation, bought an accident-insurance ticket. This employed him
half a minute, and then he gave up the unequal contest, and went and
took his place beside Isabel, who sat prettily wrapped in her shawl,
perfectly content.

"Isn't it charming," she said gayly, "having to wait so long? It puts
me in mind of some of those other journeys we took together. But I can't
think of those times with any patience, when we might really have had
each other, and didn't! Do you remember how long we had to wait at
Chambery? and the numbers of military gentlemen that waited too, with
their little waists, and their kisses when they met? and that poor
married military gentleman, with the plain wife and the two children,
and a tarnished uniform? He seemed to be somehow in misfortune, and
his mustache hung down in such a spiritless way, while all the other
military mustaches about curled and bristled with so much boldness. I
think 'salles d'attente' everywhere are delightful, and there is such a
community of interest in them all, that when I come here only to go out
to Brookline, I feel myself a traveller once more,--a blessed stranger
in a strange land. O dear, Basil, those were happy times after all, when
we might have had each other and didn't! And now we're the more precious
for having been so long lost."

She drew closer and c