louder, and began to shake the earth—it grew louder still; a bell began to make a cheerful tolling—people were rushing to and fro, Meg and Robin rushed with them—and the train was panting in the depôt.
It was even more thrilling than the children had thought it would be. They had travelled so very little, and did not know exactly where to go. It might not be the right train even. They did not know how long it would wait. It might rush away again before they could get on. People seemed in such a hurry and so excited. As they hurried along they found themselves being pushed and jostled. Before the steps of one of the cars, a conductor stood whom people kept showing tickets to. There were several persons round him when Robin and Meg reached the place where he stood. People kept asking him things, and sometimes he passed them on and sometimes let them go into his car.
"Is this the train to Chicago?" said Robin breathlessly.
But he was so much less than the other people, and the man was so busy, he did not hear him.
Robin tried to get nearer.
"Is this the Chicago train, sir?" he said a little louder.
He had had to press by a man whom he had been
