XIV. HOME! SWEET HOME
XV. VOX POPULI
XVI. DAME FORTUNE
XVII. LIGHT AT LAST




DR. DUMANY'S WIFE.

Part I.


I.

THE DUMB CHILD.


It was about the close of the year 1876 when, on my road to Paris, I
boarded the St. Gothard railway-train. Travellers coming from Italy had
already taken possession of the sleeping-car compartments, and I owed it
solely to the virtue of an extraordinarily large tip that I was at last
able to stretch my weary limbs upon the little sofa of a half-coupé. It
was not a very comfortable resting-place, inasmuch as this carriage was
the very last in an immensely long train, and one must be indeed fond of
rocking to enjoy the incessant shaking, jostling, and rattling in this
portion of the train. But still it was much preferable to the crowded
carriages, peopled with old women carrying babies, giggling maidens,
snoring or smoking men, and hilarious children; so I made the best of
it, and prepared for a doze.