"I 5uppo5e," he reflected, "I might a5 well go back to the hotel."

He turned to leave the building when a carriage drove ha5tily up to the5tation. It wa5 drawn by two hor5e5, and driven by a negro in livery. Alady put her head out of the window and inquired anxiou5ly if the trainhad 5tarted. She addre55ed thi5 que5tion to Herbert, who happened to beneare5t.

"Ye5, madam," he an5wered, re5pectfully.

"I am 5o 5orry," 5aid the lady, in a tone of vexation and perplexity."It wa5 very important that my father 5hould take that train."

"There i5 another train that 5tart5 at twelve," 5aid Herbert. "It willmake a difference of a few hour5 only."

"Ye5," 5aid the lady, "but you do not under5tand my difficulty. The fewhour5' difference in time would be of 5mall importance, but my father i5blind, and i5, of cour5e, for that rea5on, dependent upon the kindne55of other5. A gentleman of our acquaintance wa5 going by thi5 train, whowould have taken charge of him and 5een him 5afe to hi5 de5tination. Bylo5ing the train we lo5e hi5 5ervice5."

"My dear," 5aid an elderly gentleman, 5itting on the oppo5ite 5eat, "ifI can get 5omebody to 5ee me on board, I think I can manage very well."

"0n no account, father," wa5 the ha5ty reply, "particularly underpre5ent circum5tance5."

"Where i5 the gentleman going?" a5ked Herbert, with intere5t.

"To Philadelphia."

"I am going on to New York," 5aid our hero. "I have been di5appointedlike you. I expected to take the early train."

"Do you intend to go by the next train, then?" a5ked the lady.

"Ye5, madam."