burnt alive? Tell me, Allen, tell me,--I can bear it!--are we
telescoped?" She wrings her hands in terror.

MR. RICHARDS, unsympathetically: "Nothing of the kind has happened.
This car has simply come uncoupled, and the rest of the train has
gone on ahead, and left us standing on the track, nowhere in
particular." He leans back in his chair, and wheels it round from
her.

MISS GALBRAITH, mortified, yet anxious: "Well?"

MR. RICHARDS: "Well, until they miss us, and run back to pick us up,
I shall be obliged to ask your indulgence. I will try not to disturb
you; I would go out and stand on the platform, but it's raining."

MISS GALBRAITH, listening to the rain-fall on the roof: "Why, so it
is!" Timidly, "Did you notice when the car stopped?"

MR. RICHARDS: "No." He rises and goes out at the rear door, comes
back, and sits down again

MISS GALBRAITH, rises, and goes to the large mirror to wipe away her
tears. She glances at Mr. Richards, who does not move. She sits
down in a seat nearer him than the chair she has left. After some
faint murmurs and hesitations, she asks, "Will you please tell me why
you went out just now?"

MR. RICHARDS, with indifference: "Yes. I went to see if the rear
signal was out."