"What, Basingstoke?" she cried. "How could you think I'd be so unromantic? Why, it is only a miserable, dirty railway junction!" "Perhaps we change carriages here?" "Wrong again; but the train stops for a few minutes, and if you'll be good you may run out and have a breath of fresh air and something to drink." "How do you know," he asked, "that I sha'n't go forward and see how the luggage is labelled?" "That would not be playing fair," she replied, pouting, "and I should be dreadfully cross with you." "I'll promise to be good," he hastened to assure her, and, as the train drew up, stepped out upon the platform. His first intention had been to make straight for the refreshment-room; but he had only taken a few steps in that direction, when he saw advancing from the opposite end of the train none other than Robert Allingford, who, like himself, was a bridegroom of that day. "Why, Benedick!" he cried, "who would have thought of meeting you!" "Just what I was going to say," replied the Consul, heartily shaking his outstretched hand. "I never imagined that we would select the same train. Come, let's have a drink to celebrate our auspicious meeting. There is time enough." "Are you sure?" asked the careful Englishman. "Quite," replied his American friend. "I asked a porter, and he said we had ten minutes." They accordingly repaired to the luncheon-bar, and were soon discussing whiskies and sodas. "Tell me," said the Consul, as he put down his glass, "have you discovered your destination yet?" "Haven't the remotest idea," returned the other. "Mrs. Scarsdale insisted on buying the tickets, and watches over them jealously. If it had not been for the look of the thing, I would have bribed the guard to tell me where I was going. By the way, won't you shake hands with my wife? She is just forward." "With pleasure," replied Allingford, "if you will return the compliment; my carriage is the first of its class at the rear of the train. We have still six minutes." With which the two husbands separated, each to seek the other's wife. Scarsdale met with a cordial welcome from Mrs. Allingford, and was soon seated by her side chatting merrily. "We should sympathise with each other," she said, laughing, "for I understand that we are both in ignorance of our destination." "Indeed we should," he replied. "I dare say that at this moment your husband and my wife are gloating over their superior knowledge." "Oh, well," she continued, "our time will come; and now tell me how you have endured the vicissitudes of the day." "I think you and I have no cause for complaint," rejoined Scarsdale. "You see we understand our conventions; but I fear that our respective partners have not had such an easy time." "I shouldn't think it would have worried Mrs. Scarsdale," returned the Englishwoman.