The Invisible Playmate And W V Her book

rection I saw that his wife ? a faded blue-eyed woman, with a genius for reserve ? was placidly settling herself in her seat. Perception of these details was instantaneous. " Good-bye, my darling !" " Good-bye, papa ! " The reply, in a clear, fresh voice, was almost startling in its promptitude. I looked round; and then for the next minute and a half, I laughed quietly to myself. For, first of all, the bright little girl, the flower of the flock, the small, radiant beauty to whom that voice should have belonged, was a maiden of five and thirty, hopelessly uncomely, and irredeemably high-coloured. The unmistakable age, the unprepossessing appearance, were thrown into ludicrous contrast by the girlish coyness and bashfulness of her demeanour. When her eyes were not raised to her father's face, they were cast down with a demureness that was altogether irresistible. The little man mopped his bald scalp, hurriedly arranged some of his belongings in the rack, abruptly darted out another bird- like look, and repeated his farewell. " Good-bye, my darling ! " " Good-bye, papa ! " It was as though he had touched the spring of a dutiful automaton. The carriage doors were slammed, the guard whistled, the driver signalled, the train started. " Good-bye, my darling ! " " Good-bye, papa ! " Comic as the whole scene was, its conclusion was a relief. One felt that if " Goodbye, my darling," had been repeated a hundred times, "Good-bye, ...