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!

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; but—­but 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 him stir, aunty, won’t you—­aunty!  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.]