'You did not venture on that the other day,' said Mr. Dutton. 'How much of the park do you mean to carry away in it?' 'Let me take it,' said Gerard politely. 'No, thank you. You'd leave it behind, while you were pottering over the mouldings.' 'You are much more likely to leave it behind yourself.' 'What--with my soldier, my Stratiotes, in it? I think I see myself.' 'Give it to me,' said Gerard. 'Of course I can't see you carrying a great thing like that.' 'Can't you, indeed?' 'Gently, gently, my dear,' said Miss Mary, as the young people seemed very near a skirmish, and the train was sweeping up. Then there was another small scuffle, for Nuttie had set her heart on the third class; but Mr. Dutton had taken second-class tickets, and was about to hand them into a carriage whence there had just emerged a very supercilious black-moustached valet, who was pulling out a leather-covered dressing-case, while Gerard was consoling Nuttie by telling her that Monsieur never deigned to go third class. 'It is a smoking carriage,' said Miss Nugent, on the step. 'Pah! how it smells,' as she jumped back. 'Beautiful backy--a perfect nosegay,' said Gerard. 'Trust that fellow for having the best.' 'His master's, no doubt,' suggested Mr. Dutton. 'You'd better go in it, to enjoy his reversion,' said Nuttie. 'And where's my escort, then?' 'Oh, I'm sure we don't want you.' 'Nuttie, my dear,' expostulated Miss Nugent, dragging her into the next carriage. 'You may enjoy the fragrance still,' said Nuttie when seated. 'Do you see--there's the man's master; he has stood him up against that post, with his cigar, to wait while he gets out the luggage. I daresay you can get a whiff if you lean out far enough.' 'I say! that figure is a study!' said Gerard. 'What is it that he is so like?' 'Oh! I know,' said Nuttie. 'It is Lord Frederick Verisopht, and the bad gentlefolks in the pictures to the old numbers of Dickens that you have got, Miss Mary. Now, isn't he? Look! only Lord Frederick wasn't fat.' Nuttie was in a state of excitement that made her peculiarly unmanageable, and Miss Nugent was very grateful to Mr. Dutton for his sharp though general admonition against staring, while, under pretext of disposing of the umbrella and the vasculum, he stood up, so as to block the window till they were starting. There was no one else to observe them but a demure old lady, and in ten minutes' time they were in open space, where high spirits might work themselves off, though the battle over the botanical case was ended by Miss Nugent, who strongly held that ladies should carry their own extra encumbrances, and slung it with a scarf over Nuttie's shoulders in a knowing knapsack fashion.