Part 50

I remember once travelling with a gentleman in a railway carriage between London and Bristol. Besides him and me there were three or four more passengers in the compartment, ladies and gentlemen.

Scarcely had we left the Paddington station ere he began wondering.

"I wonder," said he, "how fast this train goes."

Oh, about forty miles an hour, I replied.

"I wonder, does this train stop at Reading?"

I think it does, I answered.

Then whispering in my ear, he said, "I wonder who that old gentleman is in yon corner of the carriage."

I really do not know; he is a stranger to me, I observed.

After a few minutes' pause, in which he seemed to have indulged a profound meditation, he again whispered in my ears, saying, "I wonder who that lady is sitting next to you."

I cannot say, I replied.

The train travelled on at a great speed, passing station after station in rapid succession.

Again he said, "I wonder how fast we are travelling now."

Oh, perhaps sixty miles an hour.

Quickly, he said, "I wonder what station that is we have just passed."

I think it is Swindon.

After a brief pause:--

"I wonder what time this train gets into Bristol."

It is due at ten o'clock.

"I wonder will it be punctual."

Thus he was wondering ever and anon until we reached the Bristol station, where we parted, he going one way and I another; perhaps he wondering who I was, and I wondering who he was.

I remember meeting another Wonderer in the house of a friend of mine with whom I had intended to spend part of the evening.

Scarcely had we been introduced to each other when he said,--

"I wonder whether the Republican or Democrat candidate is elected to the American Presidency."

That is a matter in which I do not profess to be posted up, I replied.

Then he said, "I wonder how Lord Salisbury is getting on in the Conference."

From all the newspaper reports he seems to be getting on very well, I observed.

After a very brief pause, he said, "I wonder whether there will be war. I wonder whether Russia really means war or peace."

It is exceedingly difficult to say, I observed. Diplomacy is so involved, so intricate, so uncertain, that no one can say until all things are really settled.