Little Classics, Volume 8 (of 18)

commercial relations with the Russian Empire were but recently renewed; and I, returning home after my first northward journey since the war, was well pleased with the prospect

land, but had found it also necessary to pass some weeks among the trading-ports of the Baltic; whence it came that the year was already far spent before I again set f

I had arranged to leave London by the 4.15 express. The early darkness of winter had already closed in; the lamps were lighted in the carriages; a clinging damp dimmed the windows, adhered to the door-handles, and pervaded all the atmosphere; while the gas-jets at the neighboring bookstand diffused a luminous haze that only served to make the gloom of the terminus more visible. Having arrived some seven minutes before the st

coat, an umbrella, and a large brown japanned deed-box, which last he placed under the seat. This done, he felt carefully in his breast-pocket, as if to make certain of the safety of his purse or pocket-book; laid his umbrella in the

do," both as regarded his professional and private means. The Jelfs entertained him with that sort of observant courtesy which falls to the lot of the rich relation; the children made much of him; and the old butler, albeit somewhat surly "to the general," treated him with deference. I thought, observing him by the vague mixture of lamplight and twilight, that Mrs. Jelf's cousin looked all the worse for the three years' wear and tear which had gone over his head since our last meetin

Dwerrihous

y name," h

meeting you at Dumbleto

rrihous

ace," he said. "But your

together at Merchant Taylor's, and I generally spend a few weeks at Dumblet

am travelling upon business,-rather troublesome business

ng forward to this visit as to the b

nt house," said

asantest

thoroughly

kindest fellow

stmas week with them," pursued Mr.

u are c

which I have in hand. You have heard, perhaps, that we are ab

s away from England, and had therefore hea

use smiled c

irect railway communication with the metropolis to become an important centre of commerce. This branch was my own ide

t Anglian direc

a director; I am a considerable shareholder; and, as head of the firm of Dw

nce of the Stockbridge townspeople, who could not be brought to see that their most vital interests hinged upon a junction with the Great East Anglian line; the spite of the local newspaper; and the unheard-of difficulties attending the Common question,-were each and all laid before me with a circumstantiality that possessed the deepest interest for my excellent fellow-traveller, but none whatever for myself. From these, to my despair, he went on to more intricate

thousand pound

wn," I repeated, in the liveliest tone

pointing significantly to his breast-pocket; "but a

seventy-five thousand pounds at this

ling you so for the last half-hou

o'clock this evening, at the office of Sir Thomas

rom Blackwater to Stockbridge with seve

ad explained how this sum only carries us as far as Mallingford,-the first stage, as it were, of our journ

ar my thoughts were wandering. So you o

a conveyance from the 'B

e at Clayborough! Can I be the

hed I could have been your companion all the way, and

ing m

she need not burn the hall down in my honor this time, and that I shall be

conflagration on the occasion o

flue was foul, and the rooks had built in it; so when I went up to dress for dinner,

station some few hundred yards ahead. There was another train before us blocking the way, and the guard was making use of the delay t

, sir!"

" I replied, holding o

e lantern; gave it back; looked, as I fancied, some

r yours," I said w

werrihouse. "They all know me;

orter, running along the platform bes

travelling-cap in his pocket, resumed his hat,

society," he said, with old-fashioned

I replied, put

ightly lifting his hat, stepped out upon the platform. Having done

d fallen, no doubt, from the pocket of his water-proof coat, and was made of dark morocco leather, with

gentleman who travelled down with me from town has dro

f, sir," replied the gua

rry me. It was a large station, and Mr. Dwerrihouse had

eir heads, and the light fell full upon their faces. I saw both distinctly,-the face of Mr. Dwerrihouse and the face of his companion. Running, breathless, eager as I was, getting in the way of porters and passengers, and fearful every instant lest I should see the train going on without me, I yet observed that the new-comer was considerably younge

before,-and they were gone! I stood still. I looked to right and left. I saw no si

a moment ago," I said to a porter at m

lemen, sir," r

uard, far up the platform, held up hi

s train, sir," said the po

to move, was shoved in by the guard, and left breathless and b

alpably there, talking, with the gaslight full upon their faces; and the next moment they were gone. There was no door near,-no w

and beating my brains for a solution of the enigma. I thought of it all the way from Blackwater to Clayborough. I thought of it all the way from Clayborough to Du

ock was striking half past seven. A couple of minutes more, and the warm glow of the lighted hall was flooding o

ng to meet you; so you must just get the dressing business over as quickly as may be. By the way, you will meet some acquaintances. The Biddulphs

expeditious; but the memory of my railway adventure haunted me. I could not get free of it. I could not shake it off. It impeded me,-it worried me,-it tripped me up,-it caused me to mislay my studs,-to mistie my cravat,-to wrench the buttons off my gl

e that an East Anglian banquet offers any exception to the rule. There was the usual country baronet and his wife; there were the usual cou

length there came a pause. The entrées had just been removed, and the turkey had come upon the scene. The conversation had all along been of the languidest, but at this moment it happened to have stagnate

"I came down part of the way

t, slicing scientifically into the br

that he should, if possible, pa

that could be," said

or Thorp," sugg

ok my

replied. "It was a near rela

n ever," replied my hostess

son than your cousin,

ork. Mrs. Jelf looked at me in a strang

ake the trouble to burn the hall down in his honor this time; but

I had better have left unsaid, and that for some unexplained reason my words had evoked a general consternation. I sat confounded, not daring t

speration of one who flings himself into the breach. "I heard you had been to Russia. Su

, and presently one or two others joined in, and so the difficulty, whatever it might have been, was bridged over. Bridged over, but not repaired. A somet

when the ladies left the room. I seized the opportun

ered, "what was the matter

the name of Joh

had seen him not

at you should have seen him," said Capta

alking all the way between London and Bla

sper,-"because John Dwerrihouse absconded three months ago, with seventy-fiv