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of her berth in dismay； and stammers some inaudible excuse； slowly
emerges full length from his berth。＇
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Don't you mind me； ma'am； I've got everything but
my boots and coat on。 Now； then ＇standing beside the berth； and
looking in upon the man in the upper tier＇； you； do you know that
this is a lady you're talking to？
THE UPPER BERTH。 By your voice and your shaggy personal appearance I
shouldn't have taken you for a ladyno； sir。 But the light is very
imperfect； you may be a bearded lady。
THE CALIFORNIAN。 You never mind about my looks。 The question is； Do
you want your head rapped up against the side of this car？
THE UPPER BERTH。 With all the frankness of your own Pacific slope；
no。
MRS。 ROBERTS （hastily reappearing）。 Oh； no； no； don't hurt him。
He's not to blame。 I was wrong to keep on talking。 Oh； please don't
hurt him！
THE CALIFORNIAN （to THE UPPER BERTH）。 You hear？ Well； now； don't
you speak another word to that lady tonight。 Just go on； ma'am； and
free your mind on any little matter you like。 I don't want any
sleep。 How long has your brother been in California？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh； don't let's talk about it now； I don't want to
talk about it。 I thoughtI thoughtGood…night。 Oh； dear！ I
didn't suppose I was making so much trouble。 I didn't mean to
disturb anybody。 I …
＇MRS。 ROBERTS gives way to the excess of her confusion and
mortification in a little sob； and then hides her grief behind the
curtains of her berth。 THE CALIFORNIAN slowly emerges again from his
couch； and stands beside it； looking in upon the man in the berth
above。＇
THE CALIFORNIAN。 For half a cent I WOULD rap your head up against
that wall。 Making the lady cry； and getting me so mad I can't sleep！
Now see here； you just apologize。 You beg that lady's pardon； or
I'll have you out of there before you know yourself。 ＇Cries of
〃Good！〃 〃That's right！〃 and 〃Make him show himself！〃 hail MRS。
ROBERTS'S champion； and heads； more or less dishevelled； are thrust
from every berth。 MRS。 ROBERTS remains invisible and silent； and the
loud and somewhat complicated respiration of her AUNT makes itself
heard in the general hush of expectancy。 A remark to the effect that
〃The old lady seems to enjoy her rest〃 achieves a facile applause。
THE CALIFORNIAN again addresses the culprit。＇ Come； now； what do you
say？ I'll give you just one…half a minute。
MRS。 ROBERTS （from her shelter）。 Oh； please； PLEASE don't make him
say anything。 It was very trying in me to keep him awake； and I know
he didn't mean any offence。 Oh； DO let him be！
THE CALIFORNIAN。 You hear that？ You stay quiet the rest of the
time； and if that lady choses to keep us all awake the whole night；
don't YOU say a word； or I'll settle with you in the morning。
＇Loud and continued applause； amidst which THE CALIFORNIAN turns from
the man in the berth before him； and restores order by marching along
the aisle of the car in his stocking feet。 The heads vanish behind
the curtains。 As the laughter subsides； he returns to his berth； and
after a stare up and down the tranquillized car； he is about to
retire。＇
A VOICE。 Oh； don't just bow。 Speak！
＇A fresh burst of laughter greets this sally。 THE CALIFORNIAN erects
himself again with an air of baited wrath； and then suddenly breaks
into a helpless laugh。＇
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Gentlemen； you're too many for ME。
＇He gets into his berth； and after cries of 〃Good for California！〃
〃You're all right； William Nye！〃 and 〃You're several ahead yet！〃 the
occupants of the different berths gradually relapse into silence； and
at last； as the car lunges onward through the darkness； nothing is
heard but the rhythmical clank of the machinery； with now and then a
burst of audible slumber from MRS。 ROBERTS'S aunt MARY。＇
II。
At Worcester； where the train has made the usual stop； THE PORTER；
with his lantern on his arm； enters the car； preceding a gentleman
somewhat anxiously smiling； his nervous speech contrasts painfully
with the business…like impassiveness of THE PORTER； who refuses； with
an air of incredulity； to enter into the confidences which the
gentleman seems reluctant to bestow。
MR。 EDWARD ROBERTS。 This is the Governor Marcy； isn't it？
THE PORTER。 Yes； sah。
MR。 ROBERTS。 Came on from Albany； and not from New York？
THE PORTER。 Yes； sah； it did。
MR。 ROBERTS。 Ah！ it must be all right。 I …
THE PORTER。 Was your wife expecting you to come on board here？
MR。 ROBERTS。 Well； no； not exactly。 She was expecting me to meet
her at Boston。 But I＇struggling to give the situation dignity； but
failing； and throwing himself； with self…convicted silliness； upon
THE PORTER'S mercy。＇ The fact is； I thought I would surprise her by
joining her here。
THE PORTER （refusing to have any mercy）。 Oh！ How did you expect to
find her？
MR。 ROBERTS。 WellwellI don't know。 I didn't consider。 ＇He
looks down the aisle in despair at the close…drawn curtains of the
berths； and up at the dangling hats and bags and bonnets； and down at
the chaos of boots of both sexes on the floor。＇ I don't know HOW I
expected to find her。
＇MR。 ROBERTS'S countenance falls； and he visibly sinks so low in his
own esteem and an imaginary public opinion that THE PORTER begins to
have a little compassion。＇
THE PORTER。 Dey's so many ladies on board _I_ couldn't find her。
MR。 ROBERTS。 Oh； no； no； of course not。 I didn't expect that。
THE PORTER。 Don't like to go routing 'em all up； you know。 I
wouldn't be allowed to。
MR。 ROBERTS。 I don't ask it； that would be preposterous。
THE PORTER。 What sort of looking lady was she？
MR。 ROBERTS。 Well； I don't know； really。 Not very tall； rather
slight； blue eyes。 II don't know what you'd call her nose。 And
stop！ Oh yes； she had a child with her； a little boy。 Yes！
THE PORTER （thoughtfully looking down the aisle）。 Dey was three
ladies had children。 I didn't notice whether dey was boys or girls；
or WHAT dey was。 Didn't have anybody with her？
MR。 ROBERTS。 No； no。 Only the child。
THE PORTER。 Well； I don't know what you are going to do； sah。 It
won't be a great while now till morning； you know。 Here comes the
conductor。 Maybe he'll know what to do。
＇MR。 ROBERTS makes some futile； inarticulate attempts to prevent The
PORTER from laying the case before THE CONDUCTOR； and then stands
guiltily smiling； overwhelmed with the hopeless absurdity of his
position。＇
THE CONDUCTOR （entering the car； and stopping before THE PORTER； and
looking at MR。 ROBERTS）。 Gentleman want a berth？
THE PORTER （grinning）。 Well； no； sah。 He's lookin' for his wife。
THE CONDUCTOR （with suspicion）。 Is she aboard this car？
MR。 ROBERTS （striving to propitiate THE CONDUCTOR by a dastardly
amiability）。 Oh； yes； yes。 There's no mistake about the carthe
Gov