My sister was going to Modum. It was before the opening of the Drammen
Railway, and it was a dreadfully long carriole drive from Christiania to
Drammen.
But everything depended upon getting off--hyp--getting to Drammen--hyp,
hyp--in time to catch the train which left for Modum at two o'clock.
Hyp--oh, dear, if the train should be gone--to wait until next
day--alone--in Drammen!
My sister stimulated the post-boys with drink-money, and the horses with
small pokes of her umbrella; but both horses and post-boys were numerous
upon this route, and much time was lost at the stopping-places.
First, the luggage had to be transferred to the new carriole. There
were the big trunk and the little one, and the plaids with loosened
strap, the umbrella, the _en-tout-cas_, the bouquet, and the book.
Then there was paying, and reckoning, and changing; and the purse was
crammed so extraordinarily full that it would shower three-skilling
pieces, [Footnote: Skilling, a halfpenny.] or a shining half-dollar
would swing itself over the side, make a graceful curve, like a
skater, round the floor, and disappear behind the stove. It had to be
got out before it could be changed, and that nobody could do.
As soon as the fresh horses appeared in the yard, my sister would spring
resolutely out, and swing herself into the carriole.
'Thanks; I am ready now. Let us be off. Good-bye.'
Yes, then they would all come running after her--the umbrella, the
_en-tout-cas_, the plaids with loosened strap, the bouquet, and the
book, everything would be thrown into her lap, and she would hold on to
them until the next station was reached, while the station-master's
honest wife stood and feebly waved the young lady's pocket-handkerchief,
in a manner which could not possibly attract her attention.
Although she thus lost no time, the drive was, nevertheless, extremely
trying, and it was a great relief to my sister when she at length
rattled down the hill from Gjelleboek, and saw Drammen extended below
her. There were not many minutes left.
At last she was down in the town. 'In Drammen, in Drammen!' muttered my
sister, beginning to triumph. Like a fire-engine she dashed along the
streets to the station. Everything was paid. She had only to jump out of
the carriole; but when she looked up at the station clock, the
minute-hand was just passing the number twelve.
Undismayed, my sister collected her knick-knacks and rushed into the
waiting-room, which was quite empty. But the young man who had sold the
tickets, and who was in the act of drawing down the panel, caught a
glimpse of this belated lady, and was good-natured enough to wait.
'A ticket--for Heaven's sake! A ticket for Drammen! What does it cost?'
'Where are you going, miss?' asked the good-natured young man.
'To Drammen--do you hear? But do make haste. I am sure the train will be
gone.'
'But, miss,' said the young man, with a modest smile, 'you _are_ in
Drammen.'
'Ah! I beg your pardon. Yes, so I am; it is to Modum, to Modum that I
want to go.'
She received her ticket, filled her lap with her things, and, purse in
mouth, hurried out upon the platform.
She was instantly seized by powerful hands, lifted off the ground, and
tenderly deposited in a _coupé_.
'Puff,' said the locomotive impatiently, beginning to strain at the
carriages.
My sister leant back on the velvet sofa, happy and triumphant; she had
been in time. Before her, upon the other sofa, she had all her dear
little things, which seemed to lie and smile at her--the bouquet and the
book, the _en-tout-cas_ and the umbrella, and the very plaids, with the
strap completely unfastened.
Then, as the train slowly began to glide out of the station, she heard
the footstep of a man--rap, rap--of a man running--rap, rap,
rap--running on the platform alongside the train; and although, of
course, it did not concern her, still she would see what he was running
for.
But no sooner did my sister's head become visible than the running man
waved his arms and cried:
'There she is, there she is--the young lady who came last! Where shall
we send your luggage?'
Then my sister cried in a loud and firm voice:
'To Drammen!'
And with these words she was whirled away.