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distant view from her window； whether； in telling him he had done her so
much good； she had not unconsciously corrected his old moody
bemoaning of his station in life； by setting him thinking that a man might
be a great healer； if he would； and yet not be a great doctor； these and
other similar meditations got between him and his Welsh picture。 There
was within him； too； that dull sense of vacuity which follows separation
from an object of interest； and cessation of a pleasant pursuit； and this
sense； being quite new to him； made him restless。 Further； in losing
Mugby Junction； he had found himself again； and he was not the more
enamoured of himself for having lately passed his time in better company。
But surely here； not far ahead； must be the great ingenious town。 This
crashing and clashing that the train was undergoing； and this coupling on
to it of a multitude of new echoes； could mean nothing less than approach
to the great station。 It did mean nothing less。 After some stormy flashes
of town lightning； in the way of swift revelations of red brick blocks of
houses； high red brick chimney… shafts； vistas of red brick railway arches；
tongues of fire； blocks of smoke； valleys of canal； and hills if coal； there
came the thundering in at the journey's end。
Having seen his portmanteaus safely housed in the hotel he chose； and
having appointed his dinner hour； Barbox Brothers went out for a walk in
the busy streets。 And now it began to be suspected by him that Mugby
Junction was a Junction of many branches； invisible as well as visible； and
had joined him to an endless number of by…ways。 For； whereas he would；
but a little while ago； have walked these streets blindly brooding； he now
had eyes and thoughts for a new external world。 How the many toiling
people lived； and loved； and died； how wonderful it was to consider the
various trainings of eye and hand； the nice distinctions of sight and touch；
that separated them into classes of workers； and even into classes of
workers at subdivisions of one complete whole which combined their
many intelligences and forces； though of itself but some cheap object of
use or ornament in common life； how good it was to know that such
assembling in a multitude on their part； and such contribution of their
several dexterities towards a civilising end； did not deteriorate them as it
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MUGBY JUNCTION
was the fashion of the supercilious Mayflies of humanity to pretend； but
engendered among them a self…respect； and yet a modest desire to be much
wiser than they were （the first evinced in their well…balanced bearing and
manner of speech when he stopped to ask a question； the second； in the
announcements of their popular studies and amusements on the public
walls）； these considerations； and a host of such； made his walk a
memorable one。 〃I too am but a little part of a great whole；〃 he began to
think； 〃and to be serviceable to myself and others； or to be happy； I must
cast my interest into； and draw it out of； the common stock。〃
Although he had arrived at his journey's end for the day by noon； he
had since insensibly walked about the town so far and so long that the
lamp…lighters were now at their work in the streets； and the shops were
sparkling up brilliantly。 Thus reminded to turn towards his quarters； he
was in the act of doing so； when a very little hand crept into his； and a
very little voice said：
〃Oh！ if you please； I am lost！〃
He looked down； and saw a very little fair…haired girl。
〃Yes；〃 she said； confirming her words with a serious nod。 〃I am
indeed。 I am lost！〃
Greatly perplexed； he stopped； looked about him for help； descried
none； and said； bending low。
〃Where do you live； my child？〃
〃I don't know where I live；〃 she returned。 〃I am lost。〃
〃What is your name？〃
〃Polly。〃
〃What is your other name？〃
The reply was prompt； but unintelligible。
Imitating the sound as he caught it； he hazarded the guess； 〃Trivits。〃
〃Oh no！〃 said the child； shaking her head。 〃Nothing like that。〃
〃Say it again； little one。〃
An unpromising business。 For this time it had quite a different
sound。
He made the venture； 〃 Paddens？〃
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〃Oh no！〃 said the child。 〃Nothing like that。〃
〃Once more。 Let us try it again； dear。〃
A most hopeless business。 This time it swelled into four syllables。 〃It
can't be Tappitarver？〃 said Barbox Brothers； rubbing his head with his hat
in discomfiture。
〃No！ It ain't；〃 the child quietly assented。
On her trying this unfortunate name once more； with extraordinary
efforts at distinctness； it swelled into eight syllables at least。
〃Ah！ I think；〃 said Barbox Brothers with a desperate air of
resignation； 〃that we had better give it up。〃
〃But I am lost；〃 said the child； nestling her little hand more closely in
his； 〃and you'll take care of me； won't you？〃
If ever a man were disconcerted by division between compassion on
the one hand； and the very imbecility of irresolution on the other； here the
man was。 〃Lost！〃 he repeated； looking down at the child。 〃I am sure I am。
What is to be done？〃
〃Where do you live？〃 asked the child； looking up at him wistfully。
〃Over there；〃 he answered； pointing vaguely in the direction of his
hotel。
〃Hadn't we better go there？〃 said the child。
〃Really；〃 he replied； 〃I don't know but what we had。〃
So they set off； hand…in…hand。 He； through comparison of himself
against his little companion； with a clumsy feeling on him as if he had just
developed into a foolish giant。 She； clearly elevated in her own tiny
opinion by having got him so neatly out of his embarrassment。
〃We are going to have dinner when we get there； I suppose？〃 said
Polly。
〃Well；〃 he rejoined； 〃IYes； I suppose we are。〃
〃Do you like your dinner？〃 asked the child。
〃Why； o