To Journey Together Read Online Free PDF Page B

excitement.
    Under the last few twinkling stars that were giving way to the first steely light of dawn, they walked to the Customs shed. On all sides were notices in foreign languages and a great babel of what seemed to Elinor many different tongues. But she was intrigued to realize that "Ingang" over one door was near enough to the Scottish "gang in" to mean quite obviously "entrance".
    "Uitgang," by the same process of reasoning, must surely be "exit." Elinor began to feel mistress of the situation!
    Once more the Customs formalities were speedy, and less than a quarter of an hour after leaving the ship, they were installed in the palatially large and comfortable compartment in which they were to travel across Holland and Germany to Munich.
    "It's surely much more exciting travelling this way than by air?" Elinor exclaimed, as she looked from the great wide windows on to the platform, where early-morning traders were already pushing barrows up and down from which one could buy papers and periodicals in several languages, steaming hot coffee in cardboard tumblers, or rolls, or fruit and chocolate of infinite variety.
     
    "Well—yes, I suppose it is." Lady Connelotn smothered another yawn. "One feels the gradual process of 'going abroad' this way. Air travel is very comfortable, but rather abrupt."
    "It is very convenient, nevertheless," her husband said a trifle irritably. "And much less tiring. If the doctors hadn't forbidden it, I should certainly have chosen to fly."
    Elinor was very, very sorry about Sir Daniel not being well enough to fly, but she simply could not, help being glad on her own account that some reason had dictated their travelling this way. And more than ever did she feel this when—after an enchanting "toot" from a horn, instead of the more familiar whistle, the train started on its way, and they went along to the dining-car for breakfast.
    In all the world, she thought, there could never have been a more delicious meal than the scrambled eggs with ham, the crisp rolls with creamy butter, and the hot fragrant coffee served in big thick cups with which they regaled themselves as the train sped on its way past the fields and canals of Holland.
    Every minute the light was strengthening now, and when she began to see distant windmills, Elinor almost cried aloud with delight.
    The houses in the small towns through which they passed enchanted her, with their clean, brightly coloured exteriors and their large and shining windows. People were already beginning to go about the day's business, and several times, as they ran over level crossings, Elinor saw fleets of cyclists waiting to pass.
    Presently they began to enter the outskirts of a much larger place than any they had passed so far. And, as Elinor gazed eagerly at the distant liners which could be seen in dock, beyond the austere but attractive buildings of the city, Sir Daniel said briefly, "Rotterdam."
    "There's a great deal of building going on here, isn't there?" she said, after a moment.
     
    "Yes, there is," Sir Daniel agreed. "The Dutch are a very progressive people."
    Presently the train drew into Rotterdam station and Elinor watched fascinated while throngs of travellers left the train and equally as many joined it. The bustling activity of large stations had always excited her, and this was no exception.
    While the train was in the station, they left the dining car and made their way back to their own compartment, and Elinor settled down in her corner seat keenly anticipating the many wonderful sights which lay ahead. To her surprise, she dozed for a while, rousing herself from time to time to gaze at some specially beautiful line of poplars etched against the winter sky, or a gay windmill with turning sails. But, as they neared the frontier about nine o'clock, she became wide awake once more.
    At this point the Dutch officials came on the train, to stamp passports and check currency. Then the train moved slowly across the narrow