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join ye mysel'。'
John had listened with a sick heart。
'I'll give you a dram when we've got through；' said he；
affecting a sprightliness which sat on him most unhandsomely；
'and not a drop till then。 Business first； and pleasure
afterward。'
With this promise the jarvey was prevailed upon to clamber to
his place and drive； with hideous deliberation； to the door
of the Lodge。 There were no signs as yet of any public
emotion； only； two men stood not far off in talk； and their
presence； seen from afar； set John's pulses buzzing。 He
might have spared himself his fright； for the pair were lost
in some dispute of a theological complexion； and with
lengthened upper lip and enumerating fingers； pursued the
matter of their difference； and paid no heed to John。
But the cabman proved a thorn in the flesh。
Nothing would keep him on his perch； he must clamber down；
comment upon the pebble in the door （which he regarded as an
ingenious but unsafe device）； help John with the portmanteau；
and enliven matters with a flow of speech； and especially of
questions； which I thus condense：…
'He'll no' be here himsel'； will he？ No？ Well； he's an
eccentric man … a fair oddity … if ye ken the expression。
Great trouble with his tenants； they tell me。 I've driven
the fam'ly for years。 I drove a cab at his father's waddin'。
What'll your name be？ … I should ken your face。 Baigrey； ye
say？ There were Baigreys about Gilmerton； ye'll be one of
that lot？ Then this'll be a friend's portmantie； like？ Why？
Because the name upon it's Nucholson！ Oh； if ye're in a
hurry； that's another job。 Waverley Brig？ Are ye for away？'
So the friendly toper prated and questioned and kept John's
heart in a flutter。 But to this also； as to other evils
under the sun； there came a period； and the victim of
circumstances began at last to rumble toward the railway
terminus at Waverley Bridge。 During the transit； he sat with
raised glasses in the frosty chill and mouldy fetor of his
chariot； and glanced out sidelong on the holiday face of
things； the shuttered shops； and the crowds along the
pavement； much as the rider in the Tyburn cart may have
observed the concourse gathering to his execution。
At the station his spirits rose again； another stage of his
escape was fortunately ended … he began to spy blue water。
He called a railway porter； and bade him carry the
portmanteau to the cloak…room： not that he had any notion of
delay； flight； instant flight was his design； no matter
whither； but he had determined to dismiss the cabman ere he
named； or even chose； his destination； thus possibly balking
the Judicial Error of another link。 This was his cunning
aim； and now with one foot on the roadway； and one still on
the coach…step； he made haste to put the thing in practice；
and plunged his hand into his trousers pocket。
There was nothing there！
Oh yes； this time he was to blame。 He should have
remembered； and when he deserted his blood…stained
pantaloons； he should not have deserted along with them his
purse。 Make the most of his error； and then compare it with
the punishment！ Conceive his new position； for I lack words
to picture it； conceive him condemned to return to that
house； from the very thought of which his soul revolted； and
once more to expose himself to capture on the very scene of
the misdeed： conceive him linked to the mouldy cab and the
familiar cabman。 John cursed the cabman silently； and then
it occurred to him that he must stop the incarceration of his
portmanteau； that； at least； he must keep close at hand； and
he turned to recall the porter。 But his reflections； brief
as they had appeared； must have occupied him longer than he
supposed； and there was the man already returning with the
receipt。
Well； that was settled； he had lost his portmanteau also； for
the sixpence with which he had paid the Murrayfield Toll was
one that had strayed alone into his waistcoat pocket； and
unless he once more successfully achieved the adventure of
the house of crime； his portmanteau lay in the cloakroom in
eternal pawn； for lack of a penny fee。 And then he
remembered the porter； who stood suggestively attentive；
words of gratitude hanging on his lips。
John hunted right and left； he found a coin … prayed God that
it was a sovereign … drew it out； beheld a halfpenny； and
offered it to the porter。
The man's jaw dropped。
'It's only a halfpenny！' he said； startled out of railway
decency。
'I know that；' said John； piteously。
And here the porter recovered the dignity of man。
'Thank you； sir；' said he； and would have returned the base
gratuity。 But John； too； would none of it； and as they
struggled； who must join in but the cabman？
'Hoots； Mr。 Baigrey；' said he； 'you surely forget what day it
is！'
'I tell you I have no change！' cried John。
'Well；' said the driver； 'and what then？ I would rather give
a man a shillin' on a day like this than put him off with a
derision like a bawbee。 I'm surprised at the like of you；
Mr。 Baigrey！'
'My name is not Baigrey！' broke out John； in mere childish
temper and distress。
'Ye told me it was yoursel'；' said the cabman。
'I know I did； and what the devil right had you to ask？'
cried the unhappy one。
'Oh； very well；' said the driver。 'I know my place； if you
know yours … if you know yours！' he repeated； as one who
should imply grave doubt； and muttered inarticulate thunders；
in which the grand old name of gentleman was taken seemingly
in vain。
Oh to have been able to discharge this monster； whom John now
perceived； with tardy clear…sightedness； to have begun
betimes the festivities of Christmas！ But far from any such
ray of consolation visiting the lost； he stood bare of help
and helpers； his portmanteau sequestered in one place； his
money deserted in another and guarded by a corpse； himself；
so sedulous of privacy； the cynosure of all men's eyes about
the station； and； as if these were not enough mischances； he
was now fallen in ill…blood with the beast to whom his
poverty had linked him！ In ill…blood； as he reflected
dismally； with the witness who perhaps might hang or save
him！ There was no time to be lost； he durst not linger any
longer in that public spot； and whether he had recourse to
dignity or conciliation； the remedy must be applied at once。
Some happily surviving element of manhood moved him to the
former。
'Let us have no more of this；' said he； his foot once more
upon the step。 'Go back to where we came from。'
He had avoided the name of any destination； for there was now
quite a little band of railway folk about the cab； and he
still kept an eye upon the court of justice； and laboured to
avoid concentric evidence。 But here again the fatal jarvey
out…manoeuvred him。
'Back to the Ludge？' cried he； in shrill tones of protest。
'Drive on at once！' roared John； and slammed the door behind
him； so that the crazy chariot rocked and jingled。
Forth trundled the cab into the Christmas streets； the fare
within plunged in the blackness of a despair that neighboured
on unconsciousness； the driver on the box digesting his
rebuke and his customer's duplicity。 I would not be thought
to put the pair in competition； John's case was out of all
parallel。 But the cabman； too； is worth the sympathy of the
judicious； for he was a fellow of genuine kindliness and a
high sense of personal dignity incensed by drink； and his
advances had been cruelly and publicly rebuffed。 As he
drove； therefore； he counted his wrongs； and thirsted for
sympathy and drink。 Now； it chanced he had a friend； a
publican in Queensferry Street； from whom； in view of the
sacredness of the occasion； he thought he might extract a
dram。 Queensferry Street lies something off the direct road
to Murrayfield。 But then there is the hilly cros