“IS it far to the Station?” asked Girlie, while they were walking along.
“Oh no, your Majesty, only just past the Crocodile’s lodge there,” replied the Wallypug, when they turned the corner.
“Oh, I know the Crocodile and I remember where we are, now,” said Girlie, when the Lodge came in sight. “I wonder whether that disagreeable Porter is still at the Station,” she thought; “and whatever shall I do, if he remembers about the ticket?”
However, she decided not to worry about it till it was necessary, and hurried along with the Wallypug till they reached the Lodge, at one of the upper windows of which Girlie could see the three Seals. They flapped their fins at her, and one of them called out, “We are coming, too, by-and-by.”
The great iron gates leading into the Station yard were wide open, and the courtyard was crowded with all kinds of animals, each carrying either a little basket or a bag, which, Girlie concluded, must contain their luncheon.
The Husher was bustling about amongst them, calling out “Silence! silence!” but no one was paying the slightest attention to him.
Inside the Station, the doors of which were closed, Girlie could see through the window the Porter excitedly arguing with a very fat Rhinoceros in a uniform, who, Girlie decided, was the Station-master. She could not hear what they were saying, but the Porter seemed to be very angry about something or other and was gesticulating violently.
It turned out afterwards that they were quarrelling as to the meaning of 10 a.m., which was the time fixed for the train to start; the Station-master arguing that a.m. stood for any morning, and the Porter declaring that it meant after meals. While waiting for them to decide, Girlie, who had lost sight of the Wallypug in the crowd, saw the Crocodile standing a little way in front of her, looking very sad indeed.
