There was a warning shriek from the engine's steam-whistle, as if it
were impatient to be off, and angrily wanting to know why it was kept
thus unnecessarily waiting.
Following up the scream of the whistle came the last cling! clang! of
the railway-porter's bell, telling belated passengers that "time" was
"up."
Next ensued the scrambling and scurrying of the aforesaid belated
passengers, who always appear to put off making up their minds as to
whether they shall start or not until the last moment of grace has
expired.
Then, finally, after much clanging of doors upon the backs of those thus
nearly left behind, with a snort of indignation and defiance of things
in general, and late passengers in particular, the panting, puffing,
fuming iron horse metaphorically and practically "put his shoulder to
the wheel," lugging the rolling, rumbling, heavy train out of the
station Londonwards, with a "puff-puff, pant-pant!" from his hoarse
throat, answered by the groans and creaks of sympathy from the laden
carriages and the clinking rattle of the coupling-chains, as they drew
taut from the tension, lending a sort of cymbal-like accompaniment to
the noisy chorus.
Bob and Nellie watched their aunt and the Captain standing on the
platform, waving their handkerchiefs from the window of their
compartment, which they found it a hard matter to shove their heads
through two at a time, until a bend in the line swept aunt Pollys
Captain Dresser, platform and all out of sight.
Then, sitting down disconsolately in their seats, Bob, who, of course,
thought it unmanly to cry, screwed himself up in a corner in default of
that alleviation of his misery, looking the very picture of woe; while
poor Nell, being a girl and freed from such Spartan obligations, sought
refuge from her sorrow in silent tears.
"Now, Nellie dear," said her mother reprovingly, "you mustn't be so
foolish! Of course, I can make allowance for your sorrow at leaving
Southsea, where you have been so happy; but these partings, dearie, will
come some time or other, and, besides, you know, both aunt Polly and
Captain Dresser have promised to come up to us at Christmas, so you'll
see them again soon."
This made poor Nell try to compose herself; and presently she smiled
through her tears, exchanging reminiscences of the past few weeks of
their enjoyment by the sea with Bob, who also, after a time, shook off
his grumpiness--the feeling that they were going "home" again, by and by
overcoming their depression at leaving, perhaps for ever, the scene of
so many delights and such a terrible ordeal at the last!
"I wonder how old Blinkie will look?" said Bob, trying to picture the
jackdaw as he would appear when conscious of his owner's return; and
then, deciding in his own mind that the only tribute of affection which
he might expect would, most probably, be a sharp peck from Blinkie's
beak, he added, "I dare say he won't remember me at all!"
Nellie's thoughts were directed to Snuffles the asthmatic cat, her great
pet; and she believed that highly-trained animal would not only know her
again after her long absence, but would certainly express her
satisfaction in a much more endearing manner, if not quite so touching
or pointed!
Thus the two beguiled the tedium of their journey; and, such was their
joy on the train's arrival in town at last, that no one would have
believed them to be the same Bob and Nell who had given way so greatly
to their grief on leaving the seaside!
Naturally, Rover's pleasure at being released from his temporary
imprisonment in the guard's van could be easily accounted for; but, the
way in which, when he got back to his old home, he walked deliberately
to the bottom of the garden in perfect remembrance of the spot where he
had buried his last bone before going away, showed that he, at least,
did not forget so easily.
The dog's memory, too, was equally green concerning his old friends
Snuffles and Blinkie, as that of his young master and mistress; for he
so sniffed and snuffed Snuffles in his exuberance at seeing her again,
that he seriously disarranged her fur, while he allowed the jackdaw to
peck at his legs and even his nose, without the slightest attempt at
retaliation!
Not long after their getting back, Bob and Nell had a great joke all to
themselves.
Their father and mother were sending down an invalid chair for Mrs
Craddock's daughter, one in which she could be taken out into the open-
air--it was a thing for which the poor girl had always been longing, as
aunt Polly managed to find out for them when they were thinking of what
sort of return they could make for the kind way in which the old lady's
son had rescued Bob, Jim himself refusing any recompense whatever,
despite all the barrister's and Captain Dresser's efforts.
So, this parcel being about to be dispatched "Down the line," Master Bob
and Miss Nell bethought them that they would send a present too; not
only to Dick, who was always in their minds, but one also for--whom do
you think?