Joshua didn’t wait for permission, but jumped into the carriage after Wynnette.
The three other ladies followed. Last of all Abel Force and Le entered and took their seats, though the train was not yet quite ready to start.
Compartments on English trains differ from those on our own, in being entirely separated by a solid partition from other compartments on the same carriage, and they are thereby quite private for those who engage a whole one. This compartment taken by the Forces resembled the inside of a large coach, having eight cushioned seats, four being in front and four behind.
The train started at ten-fifty, and whirled on through the twilight of the summer night, which in England never seems to grow quite dark.
At the first station at which the train stopped, the guard came along and put his head into the window.
“Tickets, please, sir.”
Mr. Force handed over seven tickets for his party.
Guard counted them, and touched his hat.
“Dog ticket, please, sir.”
“What?” demanded the astonished squire.