“Gee, miss!  That’s what the other lady is saying!”

“The other—­then it is a double murder!  Don’t laugh!  It’s—­it’s—­”

“Don’t cry, miss; it’s all right.”  She looked at him piteously for a moment, and then smiled at the absurdity of her conjecture.

A tousled head came from between the curtains of the upper berth opposite, and a sleepy, hoarse voice demanded: 

“How long will we be here?  What’s the latest?”

“We’re on time, sah,” replied the porter, from sheer force of habit.

“The devil we are!  Say, I’ve got to be in Omegon by ten o’clock.  I’ll sue this infernal road,” snarled the irascible party, snapping the curtains together.  It transpired that he was an agent for a medical college, travelling to Omegon on a most unwholesome but edifying mission.  He was going up to take possession of the body of a man who had willed his carcass to the school.  As the poor chap was not yet dead, but hopelessly ill, the desire for haste on the part of the agent may be misunderstood.  It seems, however, that there was some talk of interference by relatives—­and the disquieting prospect of a new will.

“If I were you, miss,” counselled the porter, “I’d go out and take a little walk.  The sun is up, an’ it’s fine.  The relief train will be here ‘fore long—­an’ you all will be rowed acrost the river.  Don’t worry.”

“But I want to go back the way I came,” expostulated Anne, feebly.  “I can’t go on without—­until I know what has happened to—­to Mr. Windomshire.”  She took his advice, however, and made her way to the rear platform.

A number of disgruntled passengers were now abroad, and complaining bitterly of the delay.  There was no hope of breakfast until the train reached Omegon, where a dining car was waiting.  She stood on the platform and looked gloomily back over the long stretch of roadbed.

“Isn’t that an engine coming?” some one asked excitedly at her side.  She turned and found Miss Thursdale, attended by a gentleman, to whom the question was addressed.

“I believe—­yes, it is, Miss Thursdale.”

“Then—­then we’ll all be taken back to the city,” she said dejectedly.

“I fancy not.  It’s probably bringing relief.”

“They—­they may be bringing bad news,” Eleanor groaned.  “Oh, Miss Courtenay, how do you do—­again?  How is your—­your grandmother, wasn’t it?”

“I—­I—­yes, I think so—­I mean, I think she’s no better.  They may be bringing his body!” said the other girl, her eyes fixed on the distant locomotive.

“Oh!” almost screamed Eleanor, and stared wildly without words.

A brakeman far down the track was flagging the locomotive; it came to a stop, and several men were seen climbing down from the cab.  Two of them eventually disengaged themselves from the little group and hurried forward.  One was carrying a suitcase, and both walked as though they were either in pain or attended by extreme old age.