"GOING NORTH." 11 



was pursuing its fleet career past Harrow, through 

 Watford, Bletchley, halting at Rugby for a while. 

 Then away at full speed, whilst the steadiness of the 

 carriages, even when whirling along at this rate, was 

 the subject of discussion as being something remark- 

 able, reflecting the highest credit on those charged 

 with the maintenance of the road, and the construction 

 of these ponderous vehicles, which surpass in comfort 

 and convenience all others which I have ever met 

 with. Having finished our cigars, and being assured 

 that it was customary when " Going North " just to 

 take a wee drop of whisky before going to bed, I fell 

 in with this arrangement not unwillingly, and was 

 soon between the snow-white sheets, dreaming' that 

 some one had sent for me in a hurry, and that I was 

 travelling in the cabin of a first-class steamer, which, 

 by some clever feat in engineering, had been adapted 

 to cross the line or go on the railway track with equal 

 facility. Occasionally a halt was made, and murmurs 

 of "Wigan," Carlisle/' " Carstairs," broke on my 

 drowsy and inattentive ear. I did not care; such 

 places had no attraction for me. I was going farther 

 North, and would wait until the welcome sound of 

 Perth Station aroused me. 



Owing to the heavy load, this train was an hour 

 late, performing the journey, which is over 400 miles, 

 in thirteen hours on this occasion, instead of twelve, 

 the usual time. Perth Station was a busy scene indeed. 

 Mountains of luggage ; numbers of pointers, setters, 

 clumbers, and those on sporting amusements bent, 

 clad in knickerbockers and tweed suits more or less 

 conspicuous according to the taste of the wearer. All 

 was business ; no bustle ; careful, steady porters took 



