Some of the passengers laughed at the answers of the old lady. I did not care to get up a quarrel with her, and I decided to stand up, in deference to the old lady's bundles, until the train stopped at the first station, when I could safely look for a seat in some other car. After this exhibition of rudeness, I did not think my seat at her side would be comfortable; I was afraid her bristles would annoy me, and it was more comfortable to stand. The train moved off; but it had gone only a very short distance before the conductor appeared, followed by a very dignified-looking gentleman, for whom he was evidently seeking a seat; and this assured me that the cars were all full forward.
"Here is just one seat," said the gentlemanly conductor, as he stopped beside the vacant place, and began to pick up the old lady's bundles.
"Don't you tech them things," interposed their legal owner.
"This gentleman wants a seat," added the polite official.
"He can find one somewhere else. I don't want my bundles tipped round, as though they didn't cost nothing."
"But we must have the seat, madam," insisted the conductor. "I believe you pay for only one seat."
"Sakes alive! Can't a body have a place to put her things?"
"I will put them in the rack for you."
"I don't want them put in the rack."
"Well, madam, you can put them where you please, but this gentleman must have the seat."