Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/110

 MARK TWAIN

mistake had been made and our car had not been put on. The conductor had reserved a section for us it was the best he could do, he said. But the Major said we were not in a hurry, and would wait for the car to be put on. The conductor responded, with pleasant irony:

&quot;It may be that you are not in a hurry, just as you say, but we are. Come, get aboard, gentle men, get aboard don t keep us waiting.&quot;

But the Major would not get aboard himself nor allow me to do it. He wanted his car, and said he must have it. This made the hurried and perspiring conductor impatient, and he said:

&quot;It s the best we can do we can t do impossi bilities. You will take the section or go without. A mistake has been made and can t be rectified at this late hour. It s a thing that happens now and then, and there is nothing for it but to put up with it and make the best of it. Other peo ple do.&quot;

&quot;Ah, that is just it, you see. If they had stuck to their rights and enforced them you wouldn t be trying to trample mine under foot in this bland way now. I haven t any disposition to give you unneces sary trouble, but it is my duty to protect the next man from this kind of imposition. So I must have my car. Otherwise I will wait in Chicago and sue the company for violating its contract.&quot;

&quot;Sue the company? for a thing like that!&quot;

&quot;Certainly.&quot;

&quot;Do you really mean that?&quot;

&quot;Indeed, I do.&quot;

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