Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/231

 possible. I told this to the old lady, who seemed quite pleased, and went on to the platform to wait.

"I was pretty busy for the next quarter of an hour, for it was market day at the next town, but I noticed through the window that the old lady was standing on the platform, gazing steadily up at the sky.

Broxley—third class,' said a big farmer at that moment, with a head like one of his own turnips.

"I gave him his ticket, and for five minutes more I was kept pretty busy, when up came the train; in got the struggling crowd; whew! went the whistle, and away went the whole affair, leaving no one on the platform but the porter, and the old woman still staring up at the sky.

What 's the matter, madam?' I asked.

Matter!' she exclaimed, 'a pretty telegraph yours is to be sure! wuss than the old carrier by a long way. Here 'ave I bin standin' for full 'alf-an-hour with my neck nigh broke, and there 's no sign of it yet.'

No sign of what, madam?'

Of my brown paper passel, to be sure. Didn't you tell me, young man, that they said they 'd send it by telegraph as soon as possible?'

No, madam,' I replied, 'I told you they had telegraphed to say they would send it on as soon as possible—meaning, of course, by rail, for we have