The Railway Man and His Children

by Mrs. Oliphant

The English Library
No. 77
THE RAILWAY MAN AND
HIS CHILDREN
By Mrs. OLIPHANT
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOLUMES BY THE SAME AUTHOR
PUBLISHED IN
The English Library
(In the Press)
The Marriage of Elinor 2 Vols.

Copyright Edition

The Railway Man
and his Children

BY
Mrs. OLIPHANT
AUTHOR OF
“KIRSTEEN,” “WITHIN THE PRECINCTS,” “AT HIS GATES,” ETC.
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOLUME II.
LEIPZIG
HEINEMANN AND BALESTIER
LIMITED, LONDON
1892

THE RAILWAY MAN
AND HIS CHILDREN

CHAPTER XXV.

The luncheon on the hill-side would have been probably as successful as these parties ever are, had it not been for one incident. In the train of the little pony cart, which carried the food, and which had to be led over the rougher parts by Sandy the groom, there appeared a stranger whom Mrs. Rowland and her visitors had seen at two or three corners on the way, so long as it was possible to drive: supposed a tourist—which was a being very little esteemed at Rosmore, where tourists were divided into two sections, one labelled as being “from Glasgow,” who was at once the most innocent and the most objectionable; while the other, in the slang of the district, was called B.T. or British tourist, and was presumably “from the south,” a flattering appellation which means England in these regions. This man had been persistently making his way with much toil, but apparent inoffensiveness to the top of the hill, and the ladies had not interfered with his freedom. I may say, however (which is a view not perhaps popularly taken), that there are two ways of regarding the indiscriminate presence of tourists everywhere as exemplified in the question of foot-paths. The tourist ought to know that wherever he appears he is objectionable to the natives of a country, save to those who sell him provisions, and take him in to lodge; and that his undesired presence upon private property, is regarded by all who possess any, whether it be a grass plot or a hillside, with unmitigated aversion. It is at least as hard for the proprietor to put up with him, as it is for him to be shut out from one particular view—which is no better than other views which are to be procured on other people’s property, or even from the highroad. If it were then fully understood that there was a hardship on both sides, it might be easier to come to an understanding. Mrs. Rowland and the young ladies regarded the figure of the tourist toiling upwards with natural hostility. “What right has any man on our hill!” Marion said; and there was one occasion on which Rosamond had actually extended a foot, with the intention of jumping out of the pony carriage and warning off the intruder.

“I do not mind in the least telling him that he is on private property, if you wish it, Mrs. Rowland.”

“My dear, though it is private property, it is only the wild side of a mountain,” said Evelyn; “the poor man is doing harm to nothing but our feelings.”