"Do you hear me?" shrilled Bess. "What time do you suppose it is?"
"Oh, dear me! Is that a conundrum?" asked Nan, with but faint interest.
"Wake up!" and Bess pinched her. "I never knew you so stupid before. See my watch, Nan," and she held the small gold time-piece she had owned since her last birthday, so that her chum could see its face.
"A quarter to eight," read Nan from the dial. "Well! that's not so late. I know we're allowed to remain in the car till eight. I'll hurry. But, oh! isn't it dark outside?"
"Now, you're showing a little common sense," snapped Bess. "But do you see that my watch has stopped?"
"Oh! so it has," agreed Nan. "But, then, honey, you're always letting it run down."
"I know," said Bess, impatiently. "And at first I thought it must have stopped last evening at a quarter to eight. When I woke up just now it was just as dark as it was yesterday morning at six. But I took a peep at the porter's clock and what do you think?"
"I'll shave you for nothing and give you a drink," laughed Nan, quoting the old catch-line.
Bess was too excited to notice her chum's fun. She said, dramatically:
"The porter's clock says half-past nine and half the berths are put up again at the other end of the car!"