nt, and 100 pounds
to a poor woman. The latter had insured for a single trip in an
excursion train at a charge of two-pence, while the former had a policy
of insurance extending over a considerable period, for which he probably
paid twenty or thirty shillings. These are but samples, madam, of the
good service rendered to sorrowing humanity by this assurance company,
which, you must observe, makes no pretensions to philanthropic aims, but
is based simply on business principles. And I find that the total
amount of compensation paid in this manner daring one year by this
Company amounts to about 72,000 pounds."

As Mrs Marrot yawned at this point and Mrs Tipps appeared somewhat
mystified, the enthusiastic gentleman smiled, put away his pamphlet, and
wisely changed the subject. He commented on the extreme beauty of the
weather, and how fortunate this state of things was for the people who
went to the country for a day's enjoyment. Thus pleasantly he whiled
away the time, and ingratiated himself with Gertie, until they arrived
at the station where Mrs Tipps and Mrs Marrot had to get out, and
where many of the excursionists got out along with them. While the
former went their several ways, arranging to meet in the evening and
return together by the same train, the latter scattered themselves over
the neighbouring common and green fields, and, sitting down under the
hedgerows among the wild-flowers, pic-nicked in the sunshine, or
wandered about the lanes, enjoying the song of birds and scent of
flowers, and wishing, perchance, that their lot had been cast among the
green pastures of the country, rather than amid the din and smoke and
turmoil of the town.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

DETAILS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

In due time that holiday came to a close, and the excursionists returned
to the station where their train awaited them. Among the rest came Mrs
Tipps and Mrs Marrot, but they did not arrive together, and therefore,
much to their annoyance, failed to get into the same carriage.

The weather, which up to that time had kept fine, began to lower, and,
just as the train started, a smart thunder-shower fell, but, being under
cover, the holiday-makers heeded it not. Upon the whole they were an
orderly band of excursionists. Some of the separate groups were
teetotallers, and only one or two showed symptoms of having sought to
increase their hilarity by the use of stimulants.

When the shower began, John Marrot a