"You may go home to your wife, Mr. Agent," she said promptly. "Mr. Rollins will let the trains through, I'm sure." The agent stalked away in the night and the diminutive station was left to the mercy of the wayfarers. "And now, Mr. Rollins, you may go over in that corner and stretch out on the bench. It will be springless, I know, but I fancy you can sleep. I will call you for the--for breakfast." "I'm hanged if you do. On the contrary, I'm going to do my best to fix a comfortable place for you to take a nap. I'll call you when Mr. Dudley comes." "It's most provoking of him," she said, as he began rummaging through his steamer trunk. "What are you doing?" "Hunting out something to make over into a mattress. You don't mind napping on my clothes, do you? Here's a soft suit of flannels, a heavy suit of cheviot, a dress suit, a spring coat, and a raincoat. I can rig up a downy couch in no time if--" "Ridiculous! Do you imagine that I'm going to sleep on your best clothes? I'm going to sit up." "You'll have to do as I say, madam, or be turned out of the hotel," said he, with an infectious grin. "But I insist upon your lying down. You have no reason for doing this for me. Besides, I'm going to sit up. Good-night!" "You are tired and ready to cry," he said, calmly going on with his preparations. She stood off defiantly and watched him pile his best clothes into a rather comfortable-looking heap on one of the long benches. "Now, if you don't mind, I'll make a pillow of these negligée shirts. They're soft, you know." "Stop! I refuse to accept your--" she was protesting. "Do you want me to leave you here all alone?" he demanded. "With the country full of tramps and--" "Don't! It's cowardly of you to frighten me. They say the railroads are swarming with tramps, too. Won't you please go and see if Mr. Dudley is anywhere in sight?" "It was mean of me, I confess. Please lie down. It's getting cold. Pull this raincoat over yourself. I'll walk out and--" "Oh, but you are a determined person. And very foolish, too. Why should you lose a lot of sleep just for me when--?" "There is no reason why two men should fail you to-night, Mrs.--Miss--" "Miss Dering," she said, humbled. "When you choose to retire, Miss Dering, you will find your room quite ready," he said with fine gallantry, bowing low as he stood in the doorway. "I will be just outside on the platform, so don't be uneasy." He quickly faded into the night, leaving her standing there, petulant, furious, yet with admiration in her eyes. Ten minutes later he heard her call. She was sitting on the edge of the improvised couch, smiling sweetly, even timidly. "It must be cold out there. You must wear this." She came toward him, the raincoat in one hand, the purple parasol in the other. He took the parasol only and departed without a word. She gasped and would have called after him, but there was no use. With a perplexed frown and smile she went slowly, dubiously toward the folded bed.