But there is an end to all things, even to infant despotism, and so when the three-quarters past nine struck, the party rose from the table, for they had but fifteen minutes to catch the train in.
They hurried on their outer garments and hastened into the hired fly and were driven rapidly to the station.
Lively and well-lighted, but by no means noisy or confused was the scene. There was a very long and heavy train of carriages, for it carried the “three estates,” but so orderly were all the arrangements, so exact were the regulations, so well trained the guards and porters, so vigilant the police, that all went smoothly and surely as clock-work.
As if by magic, our travelers soon found themselves in a first-class carriage, with all their luggage piled on the roof, flying along with great rapidity, while hedges, fields and farm-houses, seen dimly in the half light, reeled past on either side. Though it was ten o’clock post meridian, yet in these northern latitudes, and at this season, it was still twilight. The carriage in which our travelers found themselves was in many respects like the inside of a large family coach, only it was much more capacious than any such vehicle. It had eight well-cushioned spring seats—four front and four back; and glass doors and windows on the right and left. In recesses under the seats and racks over them there was ample space for the storage of all their light luggage.
Anna and Drusilla occupied the back seats, General Lyon and Dick the front ones. Down on the floor between them, on a bed made of rugs and shawls, with a carpet-bag for a pillow, little Lenny, satisfied with shrimps, was laid asleep. Pina and Leo had seats in a second-class carriage.
Once shut up in their own carriage with the train in motion, our travelers were as isolated from all other people as if they had been making the journey in their own family coach. They neither saw nor heard anything of their fellow-passengers.
For the first hour they conversed a little with each other, making comments upon the ride, as:
“How long the twilight lasts in these parts;” or:
“Will this light mist turn to rain before morning?” or:
“What a carefully cultivated country! There is no waste land hereabouts. The whole scene seems to be a perpetual landscape garden.”