Title:   The Parlor-Car

Subject:  

Author:   William D. Howells

Keywords:  

Creator:  

PDF Version:   1.2



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William D. Howells

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The ParlorCar

William D. Howells

SCENE:  A ParlorCar on the New York Central Railroad.  It is  late  afternoon in the early autumn, with a

cloudy sunset threatening  rain.  The car is unoccupied save by a gentleman, who sits fronting one  of  the

windows, with his feet in another chair; a newspaper lies  across  his lap; his hat is drawn down over his eyes,

and he is  apparently  asleep.  The rear door of the car opens, and the conductor  enters  with a young lady,

heavily veiled, the porter coming after with  her  wraps and travellingbags.  The lady's air is of mingled

anxiety  and  desperation, with a certain fierceness of movement.  She casts a  careless glance over the empty

chairs. 

CONDUCTOR:  "Here's your ticket, madam.  You can have any of  the  places you like here,glancing at the

unconscious gentleman, and  then at the young lady,"if you prefer, you can go and take that  seat in the

forward car." 

MISS LUCY GALBRAITH:  "Oh, I can't ride backwards.  I'll  stay here,  please.  Thank you."  The porter

places her things in a  chair by a  window, across the car from the sleeping gentleman, and she  throws  herself

wearily into the next seat, wheels round in it, and  lifting  her veil gazes absently out at the landscape.  Her

face, which  is  very pretty, with a low forehead shadowed by thick blond hair,  shows  the traces of tears.  She

makes search in her pocket for her  handkerchief, which she presses to her eyes.  The conductor,  lingering a

moment, goes out. 

PORTER:  "I'll be right here, at de end of de cah, if you  should  happen to want anything, miss,"making a

feint of arranging  the  shawls and satchels.  "Should you like some dese things hung up?  Well, dey'll be jus' as

well in de chair.  We's pretty late dis  afternoon; more'n four hours behin' time.  Ought to been into Albany  'fore

dis.  Freight train off de track jus' dis side o' Rochester,  an' had to wait.  Was you going to stop at Schenectady,

miss?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, absently:  "At Schenectady?"  After a pause,  "Yes." 

PORTER:  "Well, that's de next station, and den de cahs  don't stop  ag'in till dey git to Albany.  Anything else

I can do for  you now,  miss?" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "No, no, thank you, nothing."  The Porter  hesitates,  takes off his cap, and scratches his

head with a murmur of  embarrassment.  Miss Galbraith looks up at him inquiringly and then  suddenly takes

out her portemonnaie, and fees him. 

PORTER:  "Thank you, miss, thank you.  If you want anything  at all,  miss, I'm right dere at de end of de cah."

He goes out by the  narrow  passageway beside the smaller enclosed parlor.  Miss Galbraith  looks  askance at

the sleeping gentleman, and then, rising, goes to the  large mirror, to pin her veil, which has become loosened

from her  hat.  She gives a little start at sight of the gentleman in the  mirror, but arranges her headgear, and

returning to her place looks  out of the window again.  After a little while she moves about  uneasily in her

chair, then leans forward, and tries to raise her  window; she lifts it partly up, when the catch slips from her

fingers, and the window falls shut again with a crash. 

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MISS GALBRAITH:  "Oh, DEAR, how provoking!  I suppose I must  call the  porter."  She rises from her seat,

but on attempting to move  away she  finds that the skirt of her polonaise has been caught in the  falling

window.  She pulls at it, and then tries to lift the window  again,  but the cloth has wedged it in, and she cannot

stir it.  "Well,  I  certainly think this is beyond endurance!  Porter!  Ah,Porter!  Oh,  he'll never hear me in the

racket that these wheels are making!  I  wish they'd stop,I"The gentleman stirs in his chair, lifts his  head,

listens, takes his feet down from the other seat, rises  abruptly, and comes to Miss Galbraith's side. 

MR. ALLEN RICHARDS:  "Will you allow me to open the window  for you?"  Starting back, "Miss

Galbraith!" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "AlMr. Richards!"  There is a silence for  some  moments, in which they remain

looking at each other; then,  

MR. RICHARDS:  "Lucy"  

MISS GALBRAITH:  "I forbid you to address me in that way,  Mr.  Richards." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Why, you were just going to call me Allen!" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "That was an accident, you know very  well,an  impulse"  

MR. RICHARDS:  "Well, so is this." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Of which you ought to be ashamed to take  advantage.  I wonder at your presumption

in speaking to me at all.  It's quite  idle, I can assure you.  Everything is at an end between  us.  It  seems that I

bore with you too long; but I'm thankful that I  had the  spirit to not at last, and to act in time.  And now that

chance has  thrown us together, I trust that you will not force your  conversation  upon me.  No gentleman

would, and I have always given you  credit for  thinking yourself a gentleman.  I request that you will not  speak

to  me." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "You've spoken ten words to me for every one  of mine  to you.  But I won't annoy you.  I

can't believe it, Lucy; I  can NOT  believe it.  It seems like some rascally dream, and if I had  had any  sleep

since it happened, I should think I" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Oh!  You were sleeping soundly enough when  I got  into the car!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I own it; I was perfectly used up, and I HAD  dropped  off." 

MISS GALBRAITH, scornfully:  "Then perhaps you HAVE dreamed  it." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I'll think so till you tell me again that  our  engagement is broken; that the faithful love of

years is to go for  nothing; that you dismiss me with cruel insult, without one word of  explanation, without a

word of intelligible accusation, even.  It's  too much!  I've been thinking it all over and over, and I can't make

head or tail of it.  I meant to see you again as soon as we got to  town, and implore you to hear me.  Come, it's a

mighty serious  matter, Lucy.  I'm not a man to put on heroics and that; but _I_  believe it'll play the very deuce

with me, Lucy,that is to say,  Miss Galbraith,I do indeed.  It'll give me a low opinion of woman." 

MISS GALBRAITH, averting her face:  "Oh, a very high opinion  of woman  you have had!" 

MR. RICHARDS, with sentiment:  "Well, there was one woman  whom I  thought a perfect angel." 


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MISS GALBRAITH:  "Indeed!  May I ask her name?" 

MR. RICHARDS, with a forlorn smile.  "I shall be obliged to  describe  her somewhat formally asMiss

Galbraith." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Mr. Richards!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Why, you've just forbidden me to say LUCY!  You must  tell me, dearest, what I have

done to offend you.  The worst  criminals are not condemned unheard, and I've always thought you were

merciful if not just.  And now I only ask you to be just." 

MISS GALBRAITH, looking out of the window:  "You know very  well what  you've done.  You can't expect

me to humiliate myself by  putting your  offence into words." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Upon my soul, I don't know what you mean!  I  DON'T  know what I've done.  When you

came at me, last night, with my  ring  and presents and other little traps, you might have knocked me  down

with the lightest of the lot.  I was perfectly dazed; I couldn't  say  anything before you were off, and all I could

do was to hope that  you'd be more like yourself in the morning.  And in the morning, when  I came round to

Mrs. Philips's, I found you were gone, and I came  after you by the next train." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Mr. Richards, your personal history for  the last  twentyfour hours is a matter of

perfect indifference to me,  as it  shall be for the next twentyfour hundred years.  I see that you  are  resolved to

annoy me, and since you will not leave the car, I must  do  so."  She rises haughtily from her seat, but the

imprisoned skirt  of  her polonaise twitches her abruptly back into her chair.  She  bursts  into tears.  "Oh, what

SHALL I do?" 

MR. RICHARDS, dryly:  "You shall do whatever you like, Miss  Galbraith, when I've set you free; for I see

your dress is caught in  the window.  When it's once out, I'll shut the window, and you can  call the porter to

raise it."  He leans forward over her chair, and  while she shrinks back the length of her tether, he tugs at the

windowfastening.  "I can't get at it.  Would you be so good as to  stand up,all you can?"  Miss Galbraith

stands up, droopingly, and  Mr. Richards makes a movement towards her, and then falls back.  "No,  that won't

do.  Please sit down again."  He goes round her chair and  tries to get at the window from that side.  "I can't get

any purchase  on it.  Why don't you cut out that piece?"  Miss Galbraith stares at  him in dumb amazement.

"Well, I don't see what we're to do:  I'll go  and get the porter."  He goes to the end of the car, and returns.  "I

can't find the porter,he must be in one of the other cars.  But"  brightening with the fortunate

conception"I've just thought of  something.  Will it unbutton?" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Unbutton?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Yes; this garment of yours." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "My polonaise?"  Inquiringly, "Yes." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Well, then, it's a very simple matter.  If  you will  just take it off I can easily"  

MISS GALBRAITH, faintly:  "I can't.  A polonaise isn't like  an  overcoat"  

MR. RICHARDS, with dismay:  "Oh!  Well, then"He remains  thinking a  moment in hopeless perplexity. 

MISS GALBRAITH, with polite ceremony:  "The porter will be  back soon.  Don't trouble yourself any

further about it, please.  I  shall do very  well." 


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MR. RICHARDS, without heeding her:  "If you could kneel on  that foot  cushion, and face the window"  

MISS GALBRAITH, kneeling promptly:  "So?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Yes, and now"kneeling beside her"if  you'll allow  me toto get at the

windowcatch,"he stretches both  arms forward;  she shrinks from his right into his left, and then back

again,"and  pull while I raise the window"  

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Yes, yes; but do hurry, please.  If any  one saw us,  I don't know what they would

think.  It's perfectly  ridiculous!"  pulling.  "It's caught in the corner of the window,  between the frame  and

the sash, and it won't come!  Is my hair  troubling you?  Is it in  your eyes?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "It's in my eyes, but it isn't troubling me.  Am I  inconveniencing you?" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Oh, not at all." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Well, now then, pull hard!"  He lifts the  window with  a great effort; the polonaise comes

free with a start, and  she  strikes violently against him.  In supporting the shock he cannot  forbear catching her

for an instant to his heart.  She frees herself,  and starts indignantly to her feet. 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Oh, what a cowardlysubterfuge!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Cowardly?  You've no idea how much courage  it took."  Miss Galbraith puts her

handkerchief to her face, and sobs.  "Oh,  don't cry!  Bless my heart,I'm sorry I did it!  But you know  how

dearly I love you, Lucy, though I do think you've been cruelly  unjust.  I told you I never should love any one

else, and I never  shall.  I couldn't help it; upon my soul, I couldn't.  Nobody could.  Don't let it vex you,

my"He approaches her. 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Please not touch me, sir!  You have no  longer any  right whatever to do so." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "You misinterpret a very inoffensive gesture.  I have  no idea of touching you, but I hope I

may be allowed, as a  special  favor,  topick up my hat, which you are in the act of  stepping on."  Miss

Galbraith hastily turns, and strikes the hat with  her whirling  skirts; it rolls to the other side of the parlor, and

Mr.  Richards,  who goes after it, utters an ironical "Thanks!"  He brushes  it, and  puts it on, looking at her

where she has again seated herself  at the  window with her back to him, and continues, "As for any further

molestation from me"  

MISS GALBRAITH:  "If you WILL talk to me"  

MR. RICHARDS:  "Excuse me, I am not talking to you." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "What were you doing?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I was beginning to think aloud.  II was  soliloquizing.  I suppose I may be allowed to

soliloquize?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, very coldly:  "You can do what you like." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Unfortunately that's just what I can't do.  If I  could do as I liked, I should ask you a single

question." 


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MISS GALBRAITH, after a moment:  "Well, sir, you may ask  your  question."  She remains as before, with

her chin in her hand,  looking  tearfully out of the window; her face is turned from Mr.  Richards,  who hesitates

a moment before he speaks. 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I wish to ask you just this, Miss Galbraith:  if you  couldn't ride backwards in the other

car, why do you ride  backwards  in this?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, burying her face in her handkerchief, and  sobbing:  "Oh, oh, oh!  This is too bad!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Oh, come now, Lucy.  It breaks my heart to  hear you  going on so, and all for nothing.  Be

a little merciful to  both of  us, and listen to me.  I've no doubt I can explain everything  if I  once understand it,

but it's pretty hard explaining a thing if  you  don't understand it yourself.  Do turn round.  I know it makes you

sick to ride in that way, and if you don't want to face methere!"  wheeling in his chair so as to turn his

back upon her"you needn't.  Though it's rather trying to a fellow's politeness, not to mention  his other

feelings.  Now, what in the name"  

PORTER, who at this moment enters with his stepladder, and  begins to  light the lamps:  "Going pretty slow

ag'in, sah." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Yes; what's the trouble?" 

PORTER:  "Well, I don't know exactly, sah.  Something de  matter with  de locomotive.  We sha'n't be into

Albany much 'fore eight  o'clock." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "What's the next station?" 

PORTER:  "Schenectady." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Is the whole train as empty as this car?" 

PORTER, laughing:  "Well, no, sah.  Fact is, dis cah don't  belong on  dis train.  It's a Pullman that we hitched

on when you got  in, and  we's taking it along for one of de Eastern roads.  We let you  in  'cause de

Drawingrooms was all full.  Same with de lady,"looking  sympathetically at her, as he takes his steps to go

out.  "Can I do  anything for you now, miss?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, plaintively:  "No, thank you; nothing  whatever."  She  has turned while Mr. Richards

and The Porter have been  speaking, and  now faces the back of the former, but her veil is drawn  closely.  The

Porter goes out. 

MR. RICHARDS, wheeling round so as to confront her:  "I wish  you  would speak to me half as kindly as

you do to that darky, Lucy." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "HE is a GENTLEMAN!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "He is an urbane and wellinformed nobleman.  At any  rate, he's a man and a brother.  But

so am I."  Miss Galbraith  does  not reply, and after a pause Mr. Richards resumes.  "Talking of  gentlemen, I

recollect, once, coming up on the dayboat to  Poughkeepsie, there was a poor devil of a tipsy man kept

following a  young fellow about, and annoying him to deathtrying to fight him,  as a tipsy man will, and

insisting that the young fellow had insulted  him.  By and by he lost his balance and went overboard, and the

other  jumped after him and fished him out."  Sensation on the part of Miss  Galbraith, who stirs uneasily in her

chair, looks out of the window,  then looks at Mr. Richards, and drops her head.  "There was a young  lady on


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board, who had seen the whole thinga very charming young  lady indeed, with pale blond hair growing

very thick over her  forehead, and dark eyelashes to the sweetest blue eyes in the world.  Well, this young

lady's papa was amongst those who came up to say  civil things to the young fellow when he got aboard again,

and to ask  the honorhe said the HONORof his acquaintance.  And when he came  out of his stateroom in

dry clothes, this infatuated old gentleman  was waiting for him, and took him and introduced him to his wife

and  daughter; and the daughter said, with tears in her eyes, and a  perfectly intoxicating impulsiveness, that it

was the grandest and  the most heroic and the noblest thing that she had ever seen, and she  should always be a

better girl for having seen it.  Excuse me, Miss  Galbraith, for troubling you with these facts of a personal

history,  which, as you say, is a matter of perfect indifference to you.  The  young fellow didn't think at the time

he had done anything  extraordinary; but I don't suppose he DID expect to live to have the  same girl tell him

he was no gentleman." 

MISS GALBRAITH, wildly:  "O Allen, Allen!  You KNOW I think  you are a  gentleman, and I always did!" 

MR. RICHARDS, languidly:  "Oh, I merely had your word for  it, just  now, that you didn't."  Tenderly, "Will

you hear me, Lucy?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, faintly:  "Yes." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Well, what is it I've done?  Will you tell  me if I  guess right?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, with dignity:  "I am in no humor for  jesting, Allen.  And I can assure you that though I

consent to hear  what you have to  say, or ask, NOTHING will change my determination.  All is over  between

us." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Yes, I understand that, perfectly.  I am now  asking  merely for general information.  I do

not expect you to relent,  and,  in fact, I should consider it rather frivolous if you did.  No.  What  I have always

admired in your character, Lucy, is a firm,  logical  consistency; a clearness of mental vision that leaves no

side  of a  subject unsearched; and an unwavering constancy of purpose.  You  may  say that these traits are

characteristic of ALL women; but they  are  preeminently characteristic of you, Lucy."  Miss Galbraith looks

askance at him, to make out whether he is in earnest or not; he  continues, with a perfectly serious air.  "And I

know now that if  you're offended with me, it's for no trivial cause."  She stirs  uncomfortably in her chair.

What I have done I can't imagine, but  it  must be something monstrous, since it has made life with me appear

so  impossible that you are ready to fling away your own happiness  for I  know you DID love me,

Lucyand destroy mine.  I will begin  with the  worst thing I can think of.  Was it because I danced so much

with  Fanny Watervliet?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, indignantly:  "How can you insult me by  supposing  that I could be jealous of such a

perfect little goose as  that?  No,  Allen!  Whatever I think of you, I still respect you too  much for  that." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I'm glad to hear that there are yet depths  to which  you think me incapable of descending,

and that Miss  Watervliet is one  of them.  I will now take a little higher ground.  Perhaps you think  I flirted

with Mrs. Dawes.  I thought, myself, that  the thing might  begin to have that appearance, but I give you my

word  of honor that  as soon as the idea occurred to me, I dropped  herrather rudely,  too.  The trouble was,

don't you know, that I felt  so perfectly safe  with a MARRIED friend of yours.  I couldn't be  hanging about

you all  the time, and I was afraid I might vex you if I  went with the other  girls; and I didn't know what to do." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "I think you behaved rather silly, giggling  so much  with her.  But"  

MR. RICHARDS:  "I own it, I know it was silly.  But"  


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MISS GALBRAITH:  "It wasn't that; it wasn't that!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Was it my forgetting to bring you those  things from  your mother?" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "No!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Was it because I hadn't given up smoking  yet?" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "You KNOW I never asked you to give up  smoking.  It  was entirely your own

proposition." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "That's true.  That's what made me so easy  about it.  I knew I could leave it off ANY time.

Well, I will not  disturb you  any longer, Miss Galbraith."  He throws his overcoat  across his arm,  and takes up

his travellingbag.  "I have failed to  guess your fatal  conundrum; and I have no longer any excuse for

remaining.  I am  going into the smokingcar.  Shall I send the porter  to you for  anything?" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "No, thanks."  She puts up her handkerchief  to her  face. 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Lucy, do you send me away?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, behind her handkerchief:  "You were going,  yourself." 

MR. RICHARDS, over his shoulder:  "Shall I come back?" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "I have no right to drive you from the  car." 

MR. RICHARDS, coming back, and sitting down in the chair  nearest her:  "Lucy, dearest, tell me what's the

matter." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "O Allen! your not KNOWING makes it all the  more  hopeless and killing.  It shows

me that we MUST part; that you  would  go on, breaking my heart, and grinding me into the dust as long  as we

lived."  She sobs.  "It shows me that you never understood me,  and  you never will.  I know you're good and

kind and all that, but  that  only makes your not understanding me so much the worse.  I do it  quite as much for

your sake as my own, Allen." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I'd much rather you wouldn't put yourself  out on my  account." 

MISS GALBRAITH, without regarding him:  "If you could  mortify me  before a whole roomful of people, as

you did last night,  what could I  expect after marriage but continual insult?" 

MR. RICHARDS, in amazement:  "HOW did I mortify you?  I  thought that  I treated you with all the

tenderness and affection that  a decent  regard for the feelings of others would allow.  I was ashamed  to find  I

couldn't keep away from you." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Oh, you were ATTENTIVE enough, Allen;  nobody denies  that.  Attentive enough in

nonessentials.  Oh, yes!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Well, what vital matters did I fail in?  I'm  sure I  can't remember." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "I dare say!  I dare say they won't appear  vital to  you, Allen.  Nothing does.  And if I

had told you, I should  have been  met with ridicule, I suppose.  But I knew BETTER than to  tell; I  respected


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myself too MUCH." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "But now you mustn't respect yourself QUITE  so much,  dearest.  And I promise you I

won't laugh at the most serious  thing.  I'm in no humor for it.  If it were a matter of life and death,  even,  I can

assure you that it wouldn't bring a smile to my  countenance.  No, indeed!  If you expect me to laugh, now, you

must say  something  particularly funny." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "I was not going to say anything funny, as  you call  it, and I will say nothing at all, if

you talk in that way." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Well, I won't, then.  But do you know what I  suspect,  Lucy?  I wouldn't mention it to

everybody, but I will to  youin  strict confidence:  I suspect that you're rather ashamed of  your  grievance, if

you have any.  I suspect it's nothing at all." 

MISS GALBRAITH, very sternly at first, with a rising  hysterical  inflection:  "Nothing, Allen!  Do you call it

NOTHING, to  have Mrs.  Dawes come out with all that about your accident on your way  up the  river, and ask

me if it didn't frighten me terribly to hear of  it,  even after it was all over; and I had to say you hadn't told me a

word of it?  'Why, Lucy!'"angrily mimicking Mrs. Dawes, "'you must  teach him better than that.  I make

Mr. Dawes tell me everything.'  Little simpleton!  And then to have them all laughOh, dear, it's  too much!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Why, my dear Lucy"  

MISS GALBRAITH, interrupting him:  "I saw just how it was  going to  be, and I'm thankful, THANKFUL

that it happened.  I saw that  you  didn't care enough for me to take me into your whole life; that  you  despised

and distrusted me, and that it would get worse and worse  to  the end of our days; that we should grow farther

and farther apart,  and I should be left moping at home, while you ran about making  confidantes of other

women whom you considered WORTHY of your  confidence.  It all FLASHED upon me in an INSTANT; and

I resolved to  break with you, then and there; and I did, just as soon as ever I  could go to my room for your

things, and I'm glad,yes,Oh, hu, hu,  hu, hu, hu!SO glad I did it!" 

MR. RICHARDS, grimly:  "Your joy is obvious.  May I ask"  

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Oh, it wasn't the FIRST proof you had  given me how  little you really cared for me,

but I was determined it  should be the  last.  I dare say you've forgotten them!  I dare say you  don't  remember

telling Mamie Morris that you didn't like embroidered  cigar  cases, when you'd just TOLD me that you did,

and let me be such  a  fool as to commence one for you; but I'm thankful to say THAT went  into the fire,oh,

yes, INSTANTLY!  And I dare say you've forgotten  that you didn't tell me your brother's engagement was to

be kept, and  let me come out with it that night at the Rudges', and then looked  perfectly aghast, so that

everybody thought I had been blabbing!  Time  and again, Allen, you have made me suffer agonies, yes,

AGONIES;  but  your power to do so is at an end.  I am free and happy at last."  She  weeps bitterly. 

MR. RICHARDS, quietly:  "Yes, I HAD forgotten those crimes,  and I  suppose many similar atrocities.  I own

it, I AM forgetful and  careless.  I was wrong about those things.  I ought to have told you  why I said that to

Miss Morris:  I was afraid she was going to work  me one.  As to that accident I told Mrs. Dawes of, it wasn't

worth  mentioning.  Our boat simply walked over a sloop in the night, and  nobody was hurt.  I shouldn't have

thought twice about it, if she  hadn't happened to brag of their passing close to an iceberg on their  way home

from Europe; then I trotted out MY prettynear disaster as a  match for hers,confound her!  I wish the

iceberg had sunk them!  Only it wouldn't have sunk her,she's so light; she'd have gone  bobbing about all

over the Atlantic Ocean, like a cork; she's got a  perfect lifepreserver in that mind of hers."  Miss Galbraith

gives a  little laugh, and then a little moan.  "But since you are happy, I  will not repine, Miss Galbraith.  I don't

pretend to be very happy  myself, but then, I don't deserve it.  Since you are ready to let an  absolutely


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unconscious offence on my part cancel all the past; since  you let my devoted love weigh as nothing against

the momentary pique  that a malicious little rattlepateshe was vexed at my leaving her  could make you

feel, and choose to gratify a wicked resentment at  the cost of any suffering to me, why, I can be glad and

happy too."  With rising anger, "Yes, Miss Galbraith.  All IS over between us.  You  can go!  I renounce you!" 

MISS GALBRAITH, springing fiercely to her feet:  "Go,  indeed!  Renounce me!  Be so good as to remember

that you haven't got  me TO  renounce!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Well, it's all the same thing.  I'd renounce  you if I  had.  Goodevening, Miss Galbraith.  I

will send back your  presents  as soon as I get to town; it won't be necessary to  acknowledge them.  I hope we

may never meet again."  He goes out of the  door towards the  front of the ear, but returns directly, and glances

uneasily at Miss  Galbraith, who remains with her handkerchief pressed  to her eyes.  "Ahathat isI shall

be obliged to intrude upon you  again.  The  fact is"  

MISS GALBRAITH, anxiously:  "Why, the cars have stopped!  Are we at  Schenectady?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Well, no; not EXACTLY; not stopped exactly  at  SCHENECTADY"  

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Then what station is this?  Have they  carried me  by?"  Observing his embarrassment,

"Allen, what is the  matter?  What  has happened?  Tell me instantly!  Are we off the track?  Have we run  into

another train?  Have we broken through a bridge?  Shall we be  burnt alive?  Tell me, Allen, tell me,I can

bear  it!are we  telescoped?"  She wrings her hands in terror. 

MR. RICHARDS, unsympathetically:  "Nothing of the kind has  happened.  This car has simply come

uncoupled, and the rest of the  train has  gone on ahead, and left us standing on the track, nowhere in

particular."  He leans back in his chair, and wheels it round from  her. 

MISS GALBRAITH, mortified, yet anxious:  "Well?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Well, until they miss us, and run back to  pick us up,  I shall be obliged to ask your

indulgence.  I will try not  to disturb  you; I would go out and stand on the platform, but it's  raining." 

MISS GALBRAITH, listening to the rainfall on the roof:  "Why, so it  is!"  Timidly, "Did you notice when

the car stopped?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "No."  He rises and goes out at the rear  door, comes  back, and sits down again 

MISS GALBRAITH, rises, and goes to the large mirror to wipe  away her  tears.  She glances at Mr. Richards,

who does not move.  She  sits  down in a seat nearer him than the chair she has left.  After  some  faint murmurs

and hesitations, she asks, "Will you please tell me  why  you went out just now?" 

MR. RICHARDS, with indifference:  "Yes.  I went to see if  the rear  signal was out." 

MISS GALBRAITH, after another hesitation:  "Why?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Because, if it wasn't out, some train might  run into  us from that direction." 

MISS GALBRAITH, tremulously:  "Oh!  And was it?" 

MR. RICHARDS, dryly:  "Yes." 


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MISS GALBRAITH returns to her former place, with a wounded  air, and  for a moment neither speaks.

Finally she asks very meekly,  "And  there's no danger from the front?" 

MR. RICHARDS, coldly:  "No." 

MISS GALBRAITH, after some little noises and movements meant  to catch  Mr. Richards's attention:  "Of

course, I never meant to imply  that  you were intentionally careless or forgetful." 

MR. RICHARDS, still very coldly:  "Thank you." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "I always did justice to your  goodheartedness,  Allen; you're perfectly lovely that

way; and I know  that you would be  sorry if you knew you had wounded my feelings,  however accidentally."

She droops her head so as to catch a sidelong  glimpse of his face,  and sighs, while she nervously pinches the

top of  her parasol,  resting the point on the floor.  Mr. Richards makes no  answer.  "That  about the cigarcase

might have been a mistake; I saw  that myself,  and, as you explain it, why, it was certainly very kind  and very

creditable toto your thoughtfulness.  It WAS thoughtful!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I am grateful for your good opinion." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "But do you think it was exactlyit was  quite  nice, not to tell me that your

brother's engagement was to be  kept,  when you know, Allen, I can't bear to blunder in such things?"

Tenderly, "DO you?  You CAN'T say it was?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I never said it was." 

MISS GALBRAITH, plaintively:  "No, Allen.  That's what I  always  admired in your character.  You always

owned up.  Don't you  think  it's easier for men to own up than it is for women?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I don't know.  I never knew any woman to do  it." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Oh, yes, Allen!  You know I OFTEN own up." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "No, I don't." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Oh, how can you bear to say so?  When I'm  rash, or  anything of that kind, you know I

acknowledge it." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Do you acknowledge it now?" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Why, how can I, when I haven't BEEN rash?  WHAT  have I been rash"  

MR. RICHARDS:  "About the cigarcase, for example." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Oh! THAT!  That was a great while ago!  I  thought  you meant something quite

recent."  A sound as of the  approaching  tram is heard in the distance.  She gives a start, and  then leaves  her

chair again for one a little nearer his.  "I thought  perhaps you  meant aboutlast night." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Well." 

MISS GALBRAITH, very judicially:  "I don't think it was  RASH,  exactly.  No, not RASH.  It might not have

been very KIND not  toto  trust you more, when I knew that you didn't mean anything;  butNo,  I took


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the only course I could.  Nobody could have done  differently  under the circumstances.  But if I caused you any

pain,  I'm very  sorry; oh, yes, very sorry indeed.  But I was not  precipitate, and I  know I did right.  At least I

TRIED to act for the  best.  Don't you  believe I did?" 

7MR. RICHARDS:  "Why, if you have no doubt upon the subject,  my  opinion is of no consequence." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Yes.  But what do you think?  If you think  differently, and can make me see it

differently, oughtn't you to do  so?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I don't see why.  As you say, all is over  between  us." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Yes."  After a pause, "I should suppose  you would  care enough for yourself to wish

me to look at the matter  from the  right point of view." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I don't." 

MISS GALBRAITH, becoming more and more uneasy as the noise  of the  approaching train grows louder:

"I think you have been very  quick  with me at times, quite as quick as I could have been with you  last  night."

The noise is more distinctly heard.  "I'm sure that if I  could once see it as you do, no one would be more

willing to do  anything in their power to atone for their rashness.  Of course I  know that everything is over." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "As to that, I have your word; and, in view  of the  fact, perhaps this analysis of motive, of

character, however  interesting on general grounds, is a little"  

MISS GALBRAITH, with sudden violence:  "Say it, and take  your  revenge!  I have put myself at your feet,

and you do right to  trample  on me!  Oh, this is what women may expect when they trust to  men's  generosity!

Well, it IS over now, and I'm thankful, thankful!  Cruel, suspicious, vindictive, you're all alike, and I'm glad

that  I'm no longer subject to your heartless caprices.  And I don't care  what happens after this, I shall

alwaysOh!  You're sure it's from  the front, Allen?  Are you sure the rear signal is out?" 

MR. RICHARDS, relenting:  "Yes, but if it will ease your  mind, I'll  go and look again."  He rises, and starts

towards the rear  door. 

MISS GALBRAITH, quickly:  "Oh, no!  Don't go!  I can't bear  to be  left alone!"  The sound of the

approaching train continually  increases in volume.  "Oh, isn't it coming very, very, VERY fast?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "No, no!  Don't be frightened." 

MISS GALBRAITH, running towards the rear door.  "Oh, I MUST  get out!  It will kill me, I know it will.

Come with me!  Do, do!"  He  runs  after her, and her voice is heard at the rear of the car.  "Oh,  the  outside door

is locked, and we are trapped, trapped, trapped!  Oh,  quick!  Let's try the door at the other end."  They reenter

the  parlor, and the roar of the train announces that it is upon them.  "No, no!  It's too late, it's too late!  I'm a

wicked, wicked girl,  and this is all to punish me!  Oh, it's coming, it's coming at full  speed!"  He remains

bewildered, confronting her.  She utters a wild  cry, and as the train strikes the car with a violent concussion,

she  flings herself into his arms.  "There, there!  Forgive me, Allen!  Let  us die together, my own, own love!"

She hangs fainting on his  breast.  Voices are heard without, and after a little delay The  Porter comes  in with a

lantern. 

PORTER:  "Rather more of a jah than we meant to give you,  sah!  We  had to run down pretty quick after we

missed you, and the  rain made  the track a little slippery.  Lady much frightened?" 


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MISS GALBRAITH, disengaging herself:  "Oh, not at all!  Not  in the  least.  We thought it was a train coming

from behind, and going  to  run into us, and soweI"  

PORTER:  "Not quite so bad as that.  We'll be into  Schenectady in a  few minutes, miss.  I'll come for your

things."  He  goes out at the  other door. 

MISS GALBRAITH, in a fearful whisper:  "Allen!  What will he  ever  think of us?  I'm sure he saw us!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "I don't know what he'll think NOW.  He DID  think you  were frightened; but you told him

you were not.  However, it  isn't  important what he thinks.  Probably he thinks I'm your longlost  brother.  It

had a kind of family look." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Ridiculous!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Why, he'd never suppose that I was a jilted  lover of  yours!" 

MISS GALBRAITH, ruefully:  "No." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Come, Lucy,"taking her hand,"you wished  to die  with me, a moment ago.  Don't

you think you can make one more  effort  to live with me?  I won't take advantage of words spoken in  mortal

peril, but I suppose you were in earnest when you called me  your own  own"Her head droops; he folds

her in his arms a moment,  then she  starts away from him, as if something had suddenly occurred  to her. 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Allen, where are you going?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Going?  Upon my soul, I haven't the least  idea." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Where WERE you going?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Oh, I WAS going to Albany." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Well, don't!  Aunt Mary is expecting me  here at  Schenectady,I telegraphed

her,and I want you to stop here,  too,  and we'll refer the whole matter to her.  She's such a wise old  head.  I'm

not sure"  

MR. RICHARDS:  "What?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, demurely:  "That I'm good enough for you." 

MR. RICHARDS, starting, in burlesque of her movement, as if  a thought  had struck HIM:  "Lucy! how came

you on this train when you  left  Syracuse on the morning express?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, faintly:  "I waited over a train at Utica."  She  sinks into a chair, and averts her face. 

MR. RICHARDS:  "May I ask why?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, more faintly still:  "I don't like to tell.  I"  

MR. RICHARDS, coming and standing in front of her, with his  hands in  his pockets:  "Look me in the eye,

Lucy!"  She drops her veil  over  her face, and looks up at him.  "Did youdid you expect to find  ME  on this

train?" 


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MISS GALBRAITH:  "I was afraid it never WOULD get along,it  was so  late!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Don'ttergiversate." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Don't WHAT?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Fib." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Not for worlds!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "How did you know I was in this car?" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Must I?  I thought I saw you through the  window;  and then I made sure it was you

when I went to pin my veil  on,I saw  you in the mirror." 

MR. RICHARDS, after a little silence:  "Miss Galbraith, do  you want  to know what YOU are?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, softly:  "Yes, Allen." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "You're a humbug!" 

MISS GALBRAITH, springing from her seat, and confronting  him.  "So  are you!  You pretended to be

asleep!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "III was taken by surprise.  I had to  take time to  think." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "So did I." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "And you thought it would be a good plan to  get your  polonaise caught in the window?" 

MISS GALBRAITH, hiding her face on his shoulder:  "No, no,  Allen!  That I never WILL admit.  NO woman

would!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Oh, I dare say!"  After a pause:  "Well, I  am a poor,  weak, helpless man, with no one to

advise me or counsel me,  and I  have been cruelly deceived.  How could you, Lucy, how could you?  I  can

never get over this."  He drops his head upon her shoulder. 

MISS GALBRAITH, starting away again, and looking about the  car:  "Allen, I have an idea!  Do you suppose

Mr. Pullman could be  induced  to SELL this car?" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Why?" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Why, because I think it's perfectly  lovely, and I  should like to live in it always.  It

could be fitted up  for a sort  of summerhouse, don't you know, and we could have it in  the garden,  and you

could smoke in it." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Admirable!  It would look just like a  travelling  photographic saloon.  No, Lucy, we won't

buy it; we will  simply keep  it as a precious souvenir, a sacred memory, a beautiful  dream,and  let it go on

fulfilling its destiny all the same." 


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PORTER, entering, and gathering up Miss Galbraith's things:  "Be at  Schenectady in half a minute, miss.

Won't have much time." 

MISS GALBRAITH, rising, and adjusting her dress, and then  looking  about the car, while she passes her

hand through her lover's  arm:  "Oh, I do HATE to leave it.  Farewell, you dear, kind, good,  lovely  car!  May

you never have another accident!"  She kisses her  hand to  the car, upon which they both look back as they

slowly leave  it. 

MR. RICHARDS, kissing his hand in the like manner:  "Goodby, sweet  chariot!  May you never carry any

but bridal  couples!" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Or engaged ones!" 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Or husbands going home to their wives!" 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Or wives hastening to their husbands." 

MR. RICHARDS:  "Or young ladies who have waited one train  over, so as  to be with the young men they

hate." 

MISS GALBRAITH:  "Or young men who are so indifferent that  they  pretend to be asleep when the young

ladies come in!"  They pause  at  the door and look back again.  "'And must I leave thee, Paradise?'"  They both

kiss their hands to the car again, and, their faces being  very close together, they impulsively kiss each other.

Then Miss  Galbraith throws back her head, and solemnly confronts him.  "Only  think, Allen!  If this car hadn't

broken ITS engagement, we might  never have mended ours." 


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