him. A few minutes, and the clock
struck six; upon which he went out to the platform. It was an open
station, as these small stations generally are, the small waiting-rooms
and offices on either side scarcely obstructing the view of the country,
and the station-master looked far out in the distance, towards the east,
beyond the low-lying village houses, shading his eyes with his hand from
the dazzling sun.

"Her's late this morning."

The interruption came from the surly porter, who stood by, and referred
to the expected train, which ought to have been in some minutes before.
According to the precise time, as laid down in the way-bills, it should
reach Calne seven minutes before six.

"They have a heavy load, perhaps," remarked the station-master.

The train was chiefly for goods; a slow train, taking no one knew how
many hours to travel from London. It would bring passengers also; but
very few availed themselves of it. Now and then it happened that the
station at Calne was opened for nothing; the train just slackened its
speed and went on, leaving neither goods nor anything else behind it.
Sometimes it took a few early travellers from Calne to Garchester;
especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Garchester market-days; but it
rarely left passengers at Calne.

"Did you hear the news, Mr. Markham?" asked the porter.

"What news?" returned the station-master.

"I heard it last night. Jim come into the Elster Arms with it, and _he'd_
heard it at Garchester. We are going to have two more sets o' telegraph
wires here. I wonder how much more work they'll give us to do?"

"So you were at the Elster Arms again last night, Jones?" remarked the
station-master, his tone reproving, whilst he passed over in silence Mr.
Jones's item of news.

"I wasn't in above an hour," grumbled the man.

"Well, it is your own look-out, Jones. I have said what I could to you at
odd times; but I believe it has only tried your patience; so I'll say no
more."

"Has my wife been here again complaining?" asked the man, raising his
face in anger.

"No; I have not seen your wife, except at church, these two months. But
I know what public-houses are to you, and I was thinking of your little
children."

"Ugh!" growled the man, apparently not gratified at the reminder of his
flock; "there's a peck o' _them_ surely! Here she comes!"

The last sentence was spoken in a different tone; one of relief, either
at getting rid of the subject, or at th