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red looks glanced fearfully at the surrounding terrors； seem as
though they had been drinking at half…frozen waters and were hung
with icicles。 Through the same steam would be caught glimpses of
their fellow…travellers； the sheep； getting their white kid faces
together； away from the bars； and stuffing the interstices with
trembling wool。 Also； down among the wheels； of the man with the
sledge…hammer； ringing the axles of the fast night…train； against
whom the oxen have a misgiving that he is the man with the pole…axe
who is to come by…and…by； and so the nearest of them try to get
back； and get a purchase for a thrust at him through the bars。
Suddenly； the bell would ring； the steam would stop with one hiss
and a yell； the chemists on the beanstalks would be busy； the
avenging Furies would bestir themselves； the fast night…train would
melt from eye and ear； the other trains going their ways more
slowly would be heard faintly rattling in the distance like old…
fashioned watches running down； the sauce…bottle and cheap music
retired from view； even the bedstead went to bed； and there was no
such visible thing as the Station to vex the cool wind in its
blowing； or perhaps the autumn lightning； as it found out the iron
rails。
The infection of the Station was this：… When it was in its raving
state； the Apprentices found it impossible to be there； without
labouring under the delusion that they were in a hurry。 To Mr。
Goodchild； whose ideas of idleness were so imperfect； this was no
unpleasant hallucination； and accordingly that gentleman went
through great exertions in yielding to it； and running up and down
the platform； jostling everybody； under the impression that he had
a highly important mission somewhere； and had not a moment to lose。
But； to Thomas Idle； this contagion was so very unacceptable an
incident of the situation； that he struck on the fourth day； and
requested to be moved。
'This place fills me with a dreadful sensation；' said Thomas； 'of
having something to do。 Remove me； Francis。'
'Where would you like to go next？' was the question of the ever…
engaging Goodchild。
'I have heard there is a good old Inn at Lancaster； established in
a fine old house： an Inn where they give you Bride…cake every day
after dinner；' said Thomas Idle。 'Let us eat Bride…cake without
the trouble of being married； or of knowing anybody in that
ridiculous dilemma。'
Mr。 Goodchild； with a lover's sigh； assented。 They departed from
the Station in a violent hurry （for which； it is unnecessary to
observe； there was not the least occasion）； and were delivered at
the fine old house at Lancaster； on the same night。
It is Mr。 Goodchild's opinion； that if a visitor on his arrival at
Lancaster could be accommodated with a pole which would push the
opposite side of the street some yards farther off； it would be
better for all parties。 Protesting against being required to live
in a trench； and obliged to speculate all day upon what the people
can possibly be doing within a mysterious opposite window； which is
a shop…window to look at； but not a shop…window in respect of its
offering nothing for sale and declining to give any account
whatever of itself； Mr。 Goodchild concedes Lancaster to be a
pleasant place。 A place dropped in the midst of a charming
landscape； a place with a fine ancient fragment of castle； a place
of lovely walks； a place possessing staid old houses richly fitted
with old Honduras mahogany； which has grown so dark with time that
it seems to have got something of a retrospective mirror…quality
into itself； and to show the visitor； in the depth of its grain；
through all its polish； the hue of the wretched slaves who groaned
long ago under old Lancaster merchants。 And Mr。 Goodchild adds
that the stones of Lancaster do sometimes whisper； even yet； of
rich men passed away … upon whose great prosperity some of these
old doorways frowned sullen in the brightest weather … that their
slave…gain turned to curses； as the Arabian Wizard's money turned
to leaves； and that no good ever came of it； even unto the third
and fourth generations； until it was wasted and gone。
It was a gallant sight to behold； the Sunday procession of the
Lancaster elders to Church … all in black； and looking fearfully
like a funeral without the Body … under the escort of Three
Beadles。
'Think；' said Francis； as he stood at the Inn window； admiring； 'of
being taken to the sacred edifice by three Beadles！ I have； in my
early time； been taken out of it by one Beadle； but； to be taken
into it by three； O Thomas； is a distinction I shall never enjoy！'
CHAPTER IV
When Mr。 Goodchild had looked out of the Lancaster Inn window for
two hours on end； with great perseverance； he begun to entertain a
misgiving that he was growing industrious。 He therefore set
himself next； to explore the country from the tops of all the steep
hills in the neighbourhood。
He came back at dinner…time； red and glowing； to tell Thomas Idle
what he had seen。 Thomas； on his back reading； listened with great
composure； and asked him whether he really had gone up those hills；
and bothered himself with those views； and walked all those miles？
'Because I want to know；' added Thomas； 'what you would say of it；
if you were obliged to do it？'
'It would be different； then；' said Francis。 'It would be work；
then； now； it's play。'
'Play！' replied Thomas Idle； utterly repudiating the reply。 'Play！
Here is a man goes systematically tearing himself to pieces； and
putting himself through an incessant course of training； as if he
were always under articles to fight a match for the champion's
belt； and he calls it Play！ Play！' exclaimed Thomas Idle；
scornfully contemplating his one boot in the air。 'You CAN'T play。
You don't know what it is。 You make work of everything。'
The bright Goodchild amiably smiled。
'So you do；' said Thomas。 'I mean it。 To me you are an absolutely
terrible fellow。 You do nothing like another man。 Where another
fellow would fall into a footbath of action or emotion； you fall
into a mine。 Where any other fellow would be a painted butterfly；
you are a fiery dragon。 Where another man would stake a sixpence；
you stake your existence。 If you were to go up in a balloon； you
would make for Heaven； and if you were to dive into the depths of
the earth； nothing short of the other place would content you。
What a fellow you are； Francis！' The cheerful Goodchild laughed。
'It's all very well to laugh； but I wonder you don't feel it to be
serious；' said Idle。 'A man who can do nothing by halves appears
to me to be a fearful man。'
'Tom； Tom；' returned Goodchild； 'if I can do nothing by halves； and
be nothing by halves； it's pretty clear that you must take me as a
whole； and make the best of me。'
With this philosophical rejoinder； the airy Goodchild clapped Mr。
Idle on th