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nicely together？ My life would be a wreck； simply a wreck； if they didn't。
And Willis and I not having seen each other since I was a child makes it
all the worse。 I do HOPE they're sitting down to a hot supper。
AN ANGRY VOICE from the next berth but one。 I wish people in
sleeping…cars …
A VOICE from the berth beyond that。 You're mistaken in your
premises； sir。 This is a waking…car。 Ladies； go on； and oblige an eager
listener。
＇Sensation； and smothered laughter from the other berths。＇
MRS。 ROBERTS （after a space of terrified silence； in a loud whisper
to her AUNT。） What horrid things！ But now we really must go to bed。
It WAS too bad to keep talking。 I'd no idea my voice was getting so loud。
Which berth will you have； aunty？ I'd better take the upper one； because
…
AUNT MARY （whispering）。 No； no； I must take that； so that you
can be with the baby below。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh； how good you are； Aunt Mary！ It's too bad；
it is really。 I can't let you。
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THE SLEEPING…CAR
AUNT MARY。 Well； then； you must； that's all。 You know how that
child tosses and kicks about in the night。 You never can tell where his
head's going to be in the morning； but you'll probably find it at the foot of
the bed。 I couldn't sleep an instant； my dear； if I thought that boy was in
the upper berth； for I'd be sure of his tumbling out over you。 Here； let me
lay him down。 ＇She lays the baby in the lower berth。＇ There！ Now
get in； Agnesdo； and leave me to my struggle with the attraction of
gravitation。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh； POOR aunty； how will you ever manage it？
I MUST help you up。
AUNT MARY。 No； my dear； don't be foolish。 But you may go and
call the porter； if you like。 I dare say he's used to it。
＇MRS。 ROBERTS goes and speak timidly to THE PORTER； who fails
at first to understand； then smiles broadly； accepts a quarter with a duck of
his head； and comes forward to AUNT MARY'S side。＇
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Had he better give you his hand to rest your foot
in； while you spring up as if you were mounting horseback？
AUNT MARY （with disdain）。 SPRING！ My dear； I haven't sprung
for a quarter of a century。 I shall require every fibre in the man's body。
His hand； indeed！ You get in first； Agnes。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 I will； aunty dear； but …
AUNT MARY （sternly）。 Agnes； do as I say。 ＇MRS。 ROBERTS
crouches down on the lower berth。＇ I don't choose that any member of
my family shall witness my contortions。 Don't you look。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 No； no； aunty。
AUNT MARY。 Now； porter； are you strong？
PORTER。 I used to be porter at a Saratoga hotel； and carried up de
ladies' trunks dere。
AUNT MARY。 Then you'll do； I think。 Now； then； your knee； now
your back。 There！ And very handsomely done。 Thanks。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Are you really in； Aunt Mary？
AUNT MARY （dryly）。 Yes。 Good…night。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Good…night； aunty。 ＇After a pause of some
minutes。＇ Aunty！
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THE SLEEPING…CAR
AUNT MARY。 Well； what？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Do you think it's perfectly safe？ ＇She rises in
her berth； and looks up over the edge of the upper。＇
AUNT MARY。 I suppose so。 It's a well…managed road。 They've
got the air…brake； I've heard； and the Miller platform； and all those horrid
things。 What makes you introduce such unpleasant subjects？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh； I don't mean accidents。 But； you know；
when you turn； it does creak so awfully。 I shouldn't mind myself； but the
baby …
AUNT MARY。 Why； child； do you think I'm going to break through？
I couldn't。 I'm one of the LIGHTEST sleepers in the world。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Yes； I know you're a light sleeper； butbut it
doesn't seem quite the same thing； somehow。
AUNT MARY。 But it is； it's quite the same thing； and you can be
perfectly easy in your mind； my dear。 I should be quite as loth to break
through as you would to have me。 Good…night。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Yes； good…night； Aunty！
AUNT MARY。 Well？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 You ought to just see him； how he's lying。 He's a
perfect log。 COULDN'T you just bend over； and peep down at him a
moment？
AUNT MARY。 Bend over！ It would be the death of me。 Good…
night。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Good…night。 Did you put the glass into my bag
or yours？ I feel so very thirsty； and I want to go and get some water。 I'm
sure I don't know why I should be thirsty。 Are you； Aunt Mary？ Ah！ here
it is。 Don't disturb yourself； aunty； I've found it。 It was in my bag； just
where I'd put it myself。 But all this trouble about Willis has made me so
fidgety that I don't know where anything is。 And now I don't know how
to manage about the baby while I go after the water。 He's sleeping
soundly enough now； but if he should happen to get into one of his rolling
moods； he might tumble out on to the floor。 Never mind； aunty； I've
thought of something。 I'll just barricade him with these bags and shawls。
Now； old fellow； roll as much as you like。 If you should happen to hear
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THE SLEEPING…CAR
him stir； aunty； won't youaunty！ Oh； dear！ she's asleep already； and
what shall I do？ ＇While MRS。 ROBERTS continues talking； various
notes of protest； profane and otherwise； make themselves heard from
different berths。＇ I know。 I'll make a bold dash for the water； and be back
in an instant； baby。 Now； don't you move； you little rogue。 ＇She runs to
the water…tank at the end of the car； and then back to her berth。＇ Now； baby；
here's mamma again。 Are you all right； mamma's own？
＇A shaggy head and bearded face are thrust from the curtains of the
next berth。＇
THE STRANGER。 Look here； ma'am。 I don't want to be
disagreea