And as soon as the train started they would cease talking, and soon after, fall asleep again, and sleep until the next stoppage at the next noisy station.
Thus the hours passed swiftly.
At length they were waked up by a very unusual bustle, and found themselves at a very unusually large station.
“This is a considerable town. I wonder what it is,” said Francis Tredegar, yawning and looking out of the window.
“It is Southampton and we are at our journey’s end,” answered Alexander.
“Indeed! We have run down very soon.”
“Not so very soon either. We slept all the way and know little of the flight of time. It wants but twenty minutes to eleven o’clock, and we have but just time to catch the boat. Where is the guard? I wish he would come and open the door and let us out. It is a confounded nuisance, this locking the carriage-doors on the outside, keeping one in a sort of flying prison,” grumbled Alexander, looking from the window up and down the platform for the guard.
“It is for one’s safety,” said Francis Tredegar.
“Oh, bosh! as if I hadn’t any right to risk my own life! It is not so precious to any one, I take it.”
“Well, but granting that, other lives may be precious to other people, and this rule is made for the safety of all.”