The Parlor Car | Page 6

the window-catch,"--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 cowardly--subterfuge!"
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,
to--pick 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. I--I 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."
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 me--there!"-- 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 step-ladder, 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
Drawing-rooms 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