e, Theodoric
classed them among the coarser incidents of life, and considered that
Providence, with a little exercise of moral courage, might long ago have
recognised that they were not indispensable, and have withdrawn them from
circulation. As the train glided out of the station Theodoric's nervous
imagination accused himself of exhaling a weak odour of stable-yard, and
possibly of displaying a mouldy straw or two on his usually well-brushed
garments. Fortunately the only other occupant of the compartment, a lady
of about the same age as himself, seemed inclined for slumber rather than
scrutiny; the train was not due to stop till the terminus was reached, in
about an hour's time, and the carriage was of the old-fashioned sort,
that held no communication with a corridor, therefore no further
travelling companions were likely to intrude on Theodoric's semi-privacy.
And yet the train had scarcely attained its normal speed before he became
reluctantly but vividly aware that he was not alone with the slumbering
lady; he was not even alone in his own clothes. A warm, creeping
movement over his flesh betrayed the unwelcome and highly resented
presence, unseen but poignant, of a strayed mouse, that had evidently
dashed into its present retreat during the episode of the pony
harnessing. Furtive stamps and shakes and wildly directed pinches failed
to dislodge the intruder, whose motto, indeed, seemed to be Excelsior;
and the lawful occupant of the clothes lay back against the cushions and
endeavoured rapidly to evolve some means for putting an end to the dual
ownership. It was unthinkable that he should continue for the space of a
whole hour in the horrible position of a Rowton House for vagrant mice
(already his imagination had at least doubled the numbers of the alien
invasion). On the other hand, nothing less drastic than partial
disrobing would ease him of his tormentor, and to undress in the presence
of a lady, even for so laudable a purpose, was an idea that made his
eartips tingle in a blush of abject shame. He had never been able to
bring himself even to the mild exposure of open-work socks in the
presence of the fair sex. And yet--the lady in this case was to all
appearances soundly and securely asleep; the mouse, on the other hand,
seemed to be trying to crowd a Wanderjahr into a few strenuous minutes.
If there is any truth in the theory of transmigration, this particular
mouse must certainly have been in a form