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plainly added〃but it's a blessed circumstance for you that it's not open。〃
〃You couldn't recommend it； I see； if it was available？〃
〃Ask your pardon； sir。 If it was …？〃
〃Open？〃
〃It ain't my place； as a paid servant of the company； to give my opinion
on any of the company's toepics；〃he pronounced it more like toothpicks；…
…〃beyond lamp…ile and cottons；〃 returned Lamps in a confidential tone；
〃but； speaking as a man； I wouldn't recommend my father （if he was to
come to life again） to go and try how he'd be treated at the Refreshment
Room。 Not speaking as a man； no； I would NOT。〃
The traveller nodded conviction。 〃I suppose I can put up in the town？
There is a town here？〃 For the traveller （though a stay…at… home
compared with most travellers） had been； like many others； carried on the
steam winds and the iron tides through that Junction before； without
having ever； as one might say； gone ashore there。
〃Oh yes； there's a town； sir！ Anyways； there's town enough to put up
in。 But；〃 following the glance of the other at his luggage； 〃this is a very
dead time of the night with us； sir。 The deadest time。 I might a'most
call it our deadest and buriedest time。〃
〃No porters about？〃
〃Well； sir； you see；〃 returned Lamps； confidential again； 〃they in
general goes off with the gas。 That's how it is。 And they seem to have
overlooked you； through your walking to the furder end of the platform。
But； in about twelve minutes or so； she may be up。〃
〃Who may be up？〃
〃The three forty…two； sir。 She goes off in a sidin' till the Up X passes；
and then she〃here an air of hopeful vagueness pervaded Lamps〃does
all as lays in her power。〃
〃I doubt if I comprehend the arrangement。〃
〃I doubt if anybody do； sir。 She's a Parliamentary； sir。 And； you see；
a Parliamentary； or a Skirmishun〃
〃Do you mean an Excursion？〃
〃That's it； sir。A Parliamentary or a Skirmishun； she mostly DOES go
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off into a sidin'。 But； when she CAN get a chance； she's whistled out of it；
and she's whistled up into doin' all as；〃Lamps again wore the air of a
highly sanguine man who hoped for the best；… …〃all as lays in her power。〃
He then explained that the porters on duty； being required to be in
attendance on the Parliamentary matron in question； would doubtless turn
up with the gas。 In the meantime； if the gentleman would not very much
object to the smell of lamp…oil； and would accept the warmth of his little
room … The gentleman； being by this time very cold； instantly closed
with the proposal。
A greasy little cabin it was； suggestive； to the sense of smell； of a cabin
in a Whaler。 But there was a bright fire burning in its rusty grate； and on
the floor there stood a wooden stand of newly trimmed and lighted lamps；
ready for carriage service。 They made a bright show； and their light； and
the warmth； accounted for the popularity of the room； as borne witness to
by many impressions of velveteen trousers on a form by the fire； and many
rounded smears and smudges of stooping velveteen shoulders on the
adjacent wall。 Various untidy shelves accommodated a quantity of lamps
and oil… cans； and also a fragrant collection of what looked like the pocket…
handkerchiefs of the whole lamp family。
As Barbox Brothers （so to call the traveller on the warranty of his
luggage） took his seat upon the form； and warmed his now ungloved
hands at the fire； he glanced aside at a little deal desk； much blotched with
ink； which his elbow touched。 Upon it were some scraps of coarse paper；
and a superannuated steel pen in very reduced and gritty circumstances。
From glancing at the scraps of paper； he turned involuntarily to his
host； and said； with some roughness：
〃Why； you are never a poet； man？〃
Lamps had certainly not the conventional appearance of one； as he
stood modestly rubbing his squab nose with a handkerchief so exceedingly
oily； that he might have been in the act of mistaking himself for one of his
charges。 He was a spare man of about the Barbox Brothers time of life；
with his features whimsically drawn upward as if they were attracted by
the roots of his hair。 He had a peculiarly shining transparent complexion；
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probably occasioned by constant oleaginous application； and his attractive
hair； being cut short； and being grizzled； and standing straight up on end as
if it in its turn were attracted by some invisible magnet above it； the top of
his head was not very unlike a lamp…wick。
〃But； to be sure； it's no business of mine；〃 said Barbox Brothers。 〃That
was an impertinent observation on my part。 Be what you like。〃
〃Some people； sir；〃 remarked Lamps in a tone of apology； 〃are
sometimes what they don't like。〃
〃Nobody knows that better than I do；〃 sighed the other。 〃I have been
what I don't like； all my life。〃
〃When I first took； sir；〃 resumed Lamps； 〃to composing little Comic…
Songslike〃
Barbox Brothers eyed him with great disfavour。
〃To composing little Comic…Songs…likeand what was more hardto
singing 'em afterwards；〃 said Lamps； 〃it went against the grain at that time；
it did indeed。〃
Something that was not all oil here shining in Lamps's eye； Barbox
Brothers withdrew his own a little disconcerted； looked at the fire； and put
a foot on the top bar。 〃Why did you do it； then？〃 he asked after a short
pause； abruptly enough； but in a softer tone。 〃If you didn't want to do it；
why did you do it？ Where did you sing them？ Public…house？〃
To which Mr。 Lamps returned the curious reply： 〃Bedside。〃
At this moment； while the traveller looked at him for elucidation；
Mugby Junction started suddenly； trembled violently； and opened its gas
eyes。 〃She's got up！〃 Lamps announced； excited。 〃What lays in her
power is sometimes more； and sometimes less； but it's laid in her power to
get up to…night； by George！〃
The legend 〃Barbox Brothers；〃 in large