said to have walked into the sitting-room of the station where the
master was practising tunes on an accordion, and exclaimed, "Now,
look here, boss, if you don't leave off that there noise, which
perwents me gettin' a wink o' sleep, I'll clear out o' this, sharp,
to-morrow mornin'. So now yer know," and with that remark he
returned to his bunk.

At last I was goaded to declare I felt sure that the men only
behaved in that way from crass ignorance, and that if they knew how
much my feelings were hurt, they would alter their manners directly.
This opinion was received with such incredulity that I felt roused
to declare I should try the experiment next Sunday afternoon. The
only warning which at all daunted me was the assurance that I should
affront my congregation and scare them away. It was the dread of
this which made my heart beat so fast, and my hands turn so cold as
I opened the kitchen-door the next Sunday afternoon. There were
exactly the same attitudes, every body perfectly civil and
respectful, but every body seated. Luckily my courage rose at the
right moment, and I came forward as usual with a smile, and said,
"Look here, my men, there is one little thing I want to ask you. Do
you know that it is not the custom anywhere, in any civilized
country, for gentlemen to remain seated and covered when a lady
comes into the room? If I were to go into a room in England, where
the Prince of Wales, or any of the finest gentlemen of the land were
sitting, just as you are now, they would all get up, the Prince
first, most likely, and they would certainly take off their hats!
Now why can't you all do the same, here?"

The effect of my little speech was magical. Pepper glanced at
McQuhair, Moffatt crimsoned and nudged McKenzie, Wiry Ben slipped