Family life -- Juvenile fiction; Girls -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
On the platform, when they got there, they found Audrey's neat green trunk
and portmanteau, with the rug-strap lying on top, and a porter mounting
guard over them. Audrey was very proud of her luggage when she travelled,
it looked so neat and nice, all green alike, and all with her initials,
'A. M. C.', in white. Granny had bought it all for her when they went for
their first annual visit to Torquay. Her old boxes, which she had taken
with her from home, had been sent to a Jumble Sale.
They were, after all, so early for the train that the last few moments
were rather painfully long and trying for them both. Granny bespoke a
corner seat, and ordered a foot-Warmer, and they had walked the whole
length of the platform until granny, at last, was weary, and still the
train had not come. At last Mrs. Carlyle, in her anxiety to fill up the
time, even went to the bookstall and bought some magazines for Audrey to
take with her. She did not approve of magazines as a rule. Audrey did,
though, and was overjoyed at having them; but while she was trying to get
a peep at the contents there came the sound of a shrill whistle, then a
rattle and a roar, and the train thundered down on the little station, and
drew up.
After that it was all soon ended. A good-bye, a kiss, a promise to write,
and a "be sure and let me know how your mother goes on. I shall count on
you to send me bulletins frequently, your father is so busy. Good-bye,
dear, good-bye--keep away from the door," and the engine, puffing a little
louder, and a little louder, moved on its way again. Neither Mrs. Carlyle
nor Audrey were sorry when the strain was over. It had to be; the pain
lay in that; a few minutes more or less of each other's company was but
little pleasure when the life they had enjoyed together was ended.
For a while after the engine steamed out, and the last glimpse of the
station was gone from Audrey's sight, she felt utterly miserable, and the
tears would have their way. She loved her grandmother very much, and she
loved living with her, and, for the moment, at any rate, she was not
charmed with the thought of life at home, the noisy children, the plain
food, the shabby clothes, and even shabbier house. Tears trickled down
her cheeks, and one actually dropped on the new blue bag. "Oh, dear!"
exclaimed Audrey, vexedly, "I expect there will always be a mark!"
The engine began to slow down before stopping at the next station.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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