As he spoke, with the greatest effrontery he caught the young traveller's hand in his, and drew it through his arm--the station-master and porter noting the performance, and nodding at one another; but the next moment the former official changed his aspect, for the hand was snatched away, and the young lady hurried in an agitated manner to the booking-office. "Have you a room in which I could sit down until the train comes?" she exclaimed. "I am sorry to trouble you; but I am travelling alone, and--" "To be sure you are, my deah," drawled the persecutor, who had laughingly followed, "when you have no business to do such a thing, and I won't allow it. It's all right, station-master--the train will be here directly. I'll see to the lady: friend of mine, in fact." "Indeed! I assure you, sir," exclaimed the agitated girl, "I do not know this gentleman. I appeal to you for protection." Here, in spite of her self-control, a sob burst from her breast. "Here, this sort of thing won't do, sir," said the youth, shaking his head. "I can't allow it at my station. You mustn't annoy the lady, sir." And turning very pink in the face, he tried to look important; but without success. "I think you have the care of this station, have you not, my good lad?" drawled the exquisite. "Yes, I have, sir," was the reply, and this time rather in anger, for the young station-master hardly approved of being called a "good lad." "Then mind your station, boy, and don't interfere." "Boy yourself, you confounded puppy!" exclaimed the young fellow, firing up. "I never took any notice till the lady appealed to me; but if she was my sister, sir, I'd--I'd--I don't know what I wouldn't do to you!" "But you see she is not your sister; and you are making a fool of yourself," drawled the other contemptuously. "Am I?" exclaimed the young man, whose better nature was aroused. "I consider that every lady who is being insulted is the sister of an Englishman, and has a right to his help. And now be off out of this office, for I'm master here; and you may report me if you like, for I don't care who you are, nor yet if I lose my place." Red in the face, and strutting like a turkey-cock, the young man made at the dandy so fiercely, that he backed out on to the platform, to have the door banged after him so energetically, that one of the panes of glass was shivered to atoms. "Come in here, miss, and I'll see that he don't annoy you again. Why didn't you speak sooner? Only wish I was going up to London, I'd see you safe home, that I would, miss; only, you see, I should lose my berth if I was absent without leave; and that wouldn't do, would it? May p'r'aps now, for that chap's a regular swell: come down here last week, and been staying at old Sir Henry Warr's, at the Beeches; but I don't care; I only did what was right--did I, miss?"