express their annoyance otherwise than by twitchings of their sleek
shining skins, but duly grateful to the coachman, who roused himself
now and then to whisk off some more pertinacious tormentor with the end
of his whip. Less patient was the sole occupant of the carriage, a maiden of about
sixteen years of age, whose shady dark grey eyes, parted lips, and
flushed complexion, were all full of the utmost eagerness, as every two
or three minutes she looked up from the book which she held in her hand
to examine the clock over the station door, compare it with her watch,
and study the countenances of the bystanders to see whether they
expressed any anxiety respecting the non-arrival of the train. All,
however, seemed quite at their ease, and after a time the arrival of
the railway omnibus and two or three other carriages, convinced her
that the rest of the world only now began to consider it to be due.
At last the ringing of a bell quickened everybody into a sudden state
of activity, and assured her that the much-desired moment was come.
The cloud of smoke was seen, the panting of the engine was heard, the
train displayed its length before the station, men ran along tapping
the doors of the carriages, and shouting a word which bore some distant
First Page Previous Page Next Page Last Page
Read Pause
Resume
Stop
Titles Menu View Credits and Copyright
|