getting into it. He was a clergyman, shabbily dressed, imperfectly shaved, red-haired, and wearing a red moustache. He carried a battered Gladstone bag in one hand. The guard glanced at him and then distended his cheeks with air, meaning to blow his whistle. 

 "Hold on a minute," said the clergyman.  "I'm thinking of travelling by this train." 

 The audacity of this statement shook the self-possession of the guard. 

 "Can't wait," he said.  "Time's up. You ought to have been here sooner." 

 To say this he was obliged to take the whistle from his lips; and the engine-driver, who had a strict sense of duty, was unable to start. 

 "As a matter of fact," said the clergyman, "I'm not only here soon enough, I'm an hour and a half too soon. The train I intended to catch is the next one." 

 The guard put his whistle to his lips again. 

 "If you blow that thing," said the clergyman, "before I'm in the train, I'll take an action against the company for assault and battery." 

 The guard hesitated. He did not see how such an action could be sustained in court; but he felt the necessity of thinking over his position carefully before running any risks. The law, especially in Ireland, is a curious thing, and no wise man entangles himself with it if he can help it. Railway guards are all wise men, otherwise they would not have risen to their high positions. 

 "Now that I am here," said the clergyman, "I may as well go by this train. Excuse me one moment; I want to get a few newspapers." 

 This was gross impertinence, and the guard was in no mood to stand it. He blew his whistle. The engine shrieked excitedly, and the train started with a violent jerk. 

 The clergyman seized a handful of newspapers from the bookstall. Clinging to them and his bag he ran across the platform. He tried the doors of two third-class compartments as they passed him, and found them locked. He happened next upon that which was occupied by Miss King, opened the door, and tumbled in. 

 "I've only got a third-class ticket," he said cheerfully; "but I shall travel first class the whole way now, and I shan't pay a penny of excess fare." 

 "Won't they make you?" said Miss 

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