“Tut! tut! this is serious!” exclaimed the Doctor, regarding the Dodo’s tongue critically. “We must have a change of air immediately, and thorough rest. I will go and make you up a little prescription, and I would advise you to start at once. The air at—er—the Crystal Palace would suit you admirably. There is an excursion starting to-day. I should certainly go by that if I were you.”
“The Crystal Palace! Why, that’s near London!” cried Marjorie, excitedly. “Can’t we go by the excursion, too?”
“Of course you can,” chimed in the Palæotherium; “we’ll all go, and make up a nice little family party.”
So, without further ado—the Doctor having made up his prescription, consisting of a large bottle of “bull’s eyes,” one to be taken every quarter of an hour—they hurried to the station, at the door of which a most energetic porter was ringing a huge bell.
CHAPTER XVII.
WAITING FOR THE TRAIN.
They found, on reaching the station, which was a very primitive affair with a thatched roof, that the booking-office was closed.
“Clerk be goned away for ”ees ”oliday,” explained the Porter, with a grin.