Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/105

 TRAVELING WITH A REFORMER

4 You are at perfect liberty to resume your game, gentlemen ; no one here objects.&quot;

One of them declined the risk, but the other one said he would like to begin again if the Major would join him. So they spread an overcoat over their knees and the game proceeded. Pretty soon the parlor-car conductor arrived, and said brusquely :

&quot;There, there, gentlemen, that won t do. Put up the cards it s not allowed.&quot;

The Major was shuffling. He continued to shuffle, and said :

&quot;By whose order is it forbidden?&quot;

&quot;It s my order. I forbid it.&quot;

The dealing began. The Major asked :

&quot;Did you invent the idea?&quot;

&quot;What idea?&quot;

&quot;The idea of forbidding card-playing on Sunday.&quot;

&quot;No of course not.&quot;

&quot;Who did?&quot;

&quot;The company.&quot;

&quot;Then it isn t your order, after all, but the com pany s. Is that it?&quot;

&quot;Yes. But you don t stop playing; I have to re quire you to stop playing immediately.&quot;

&quot;Nothing is gained by hurry, and often much is lost. Who authorized the company to issue such an order?&quot;

&quot;My dear sir, that is a matter of no consequence to me, and

&quot;But you forget that you are not the only person concerned. It may be a matter of consequence to me. It is indeed a matter of very great importance

�� �