"What news?" returned the station-master.

"I heard it last night. Jim come into the Elster Arms with it, and _he'd_
heard it at Garchester. We are going to have two more sets o' telegraph
wires here. I wonder how much more work they'll give us to do?"

"So you were at the Elster Arms again last night, Jones?" remarked the
station-master, his tone reproving, whilst he passed over in silence Mr.
Jones's item of news.

"I wasn't in above an hour," grumbled the man.

"Well, it is your own look-out, Jones. I have said what I could to you at
odd times; but I believe it has only tried your patience; so I'll say no
more."

"Has my wife been here again complaining?" asked the man, raising his
face in anger.

"No; I have not seen your wife, except at church, these two months. But
I know what public-houses are to you, and I was thinking of your little
children."

"Ugh!" growled the man, apparently not gratified at the reminder of his
flock; "there's a peck o' _them_ surely! Here she comes!"

The last sentence was spoken in a different tone; one of relief, either
at getting rid of the subject, or at the arrival of the train. It was
about opposite to Hartledon when he caught sight of it, and it came on