London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
EN ROUTE BY THE 11 O'CLOCK EXPRESS.
Of the journey to I may note a few points. I am travelling on Sunday (by starting at eleven there is plenty of time for breakfast and church); so I have my favourite journal, which I can read at my leisure. During the journey I notice a vast number of other passengers engaged in the same pleasant occupation. I heartily confess that during the seven hours and three-quarters devoted to the journey from London | |
309 | to I read it all If your better seven-eighths does not look at the pages of , she glances at those other leaves-the leaves on the trees. |
she exclaims, | |
It is just possible that there may be a hurricane taking place. Castles and farmhouses, to say nothing of oaks centuries old, may be disappearing before the force of the elements. But even then it is necessary to assure the lady It would be cruel, it would be unmanly, nay it would be inconvenient to say anything else. Once on board, strongly recommend the ladies' cabin and disappear yourself into the smoking-room. Until you reach the rest had better be silence. | |
At the ask for the menu, order your lunch with promptitude and command a bottle of . The tedious railway journey to the capital comes to an end at last, and then with luck you get into your voiture and find yourself in the courtyard of the Grand Hotel, in time for one of the best in -which is France-which is the world! Which is London! More or less! | |