“Thank you, sir--I would rather stand,” answered Clarence, in a cold--almost contemptuous tone; for he saw full well that this sudden politeness was not paid to _himself_, but to his connexion with aristocracy. “Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Podgson, I returned from the country by the Western Provinces Railway; and I was most anxious to reach London at the usual hour for the arrival of that particular train, inasmuch as the business which I had in hand for my noble employer was urgent and pressing. Conceive, then, my annoyance when the train stopped for three quarters of an hour at a midway station--and without any substantial reason. I remonstrated with the persons on duty at that station: I even alighted, and saw the clerk. Several other gentlemen, whose time was likewise precious, joined me in my endeavours to prevent farther delay,--but all in vain! And the excuse was--_that the train had to wait for a basket of fruit, for Mrs. Podgson, the lady of the Chairman of the Company_! Now, sir, with all possible respect for the fair sex, I submit to you that it is too bad----” “And pray,sir,” interrupted the mighty Railway Lion, flying into a furious passion, “why should _not_ my wife receive her fruit in time? By Gad! sir--the train should have waited an hour for it, had it been necessary; and it would have been as much as the situations of the guard and engineer were worth to have continued the journey without that basket!” “Then you mean me to understand, sir,” said Villiers, in a calm and gentlemanly tone which contrasted strongly with the insolent, overbearing manner of the purse-proud vulgarian-upstart,--“you mean me to understand that you approve of the conduct of your underlings in delaying a train containing upwards of a hundred persons, to most of whom time was precious, for the sake of a basket of fruit!” “_Approve_ of it!” cried the Railway Lion, astonished that any doubt should exist upon the point: “why--I _ordered_ it! sir!” “Then all I can say in comment upon such improper conduct is--that if the Government and the Legislature have permitted Companies to grasp these tremendous monopolies in order to use them as instruments of private convenience, without the slightest regard to the time or feelings of the public,--then, I for one,” continued Clarence Villiers emphatically, “protest against so atrocious a despotism; and I begin to be ashamed of my own country, when I find it becoming the scene of a petty tyranny that would raise an outcry even in Russia or Austria.”