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The ParlorCar ..................................................................................................................................................1

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The ParlorCar ...................................................................................................................................................3

William D. Howells.................................................................................................................................3

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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."

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

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?"

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

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

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

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."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?"

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

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?"

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

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

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

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: "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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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