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'Let us instantly pack the portmanteaus；' said Thomas Idle； 'pay the bill；
and order a fly out； with instructions to the driver to follow the donkey！'
Mr。 Goodchild； who had only wanted encouragement to disclose the
real state of his feelings； and who had been pining beneath his weary
secret； now burst into tears； and confessed that he thought another day in
the place would be the death of him。
So； the two idle apprentices followed the donkey until the night was
far advanced。 Whether he was recaptured by the town…council； or is
bolting at this hour through the United Kingdom； they know not。 They
hope he may be still bolting； if so； their best wishes are with him。
It entered Mr。 Idle's head； on the borders of Cumberland； that there
could be no idler place to stay at； except by snatches of a few minutes each；
than a railway station。 'An intermediate station on a line … a junction …
anything of that sort；' Thomas suggested。 Mr。 Goodchild approved of the
idea as eccentric； and they journeyed on and on； until they came to such a
station where there was an Inn。
'Here；' said Thomas； 'we may be luxuriously lazy； other people will
travel for us； as it were； and we shall laugh at their folly。'
It was a Junction…Station； where the wooden razors before mentioned
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shaved the air very often； and where the sharp electric…telegraph bell was
in a very restless condition。 All manner of cross…lines of rails came zig…
zagging into it； like a Congress of iron vipers； and； a little way out of it； a
pointsman in an elevated signal…box was constantly going through the
motions of drawing immense quantities of beer at a public…house bar。 In
one direction； confused perspectives of embankments and arches were to
be seen from the platform； in the other； the rails soon disentangled
themselves into two tracks and shot away under a bridge； and curved
round a corner。 Sidings were there； in which empty luggage…vans and
cattle…boxes often butted against each other as if they couldn't agree； and
warehouses were there； in which great quantities of goods seemed to have
taken the veil （of the consistency of tarpaulin）； and to have retired from
the world without any hope of getting back to it。 Refreshment…rooms
were there； one； for the hungry and thirsty Iron Locomotives where their
coke and water were ready； and of good quality； for they were dangerous
to play tricks with； the other； for the hungry and thirsty human
Locomotives； who might take what they could get； and whose chief
consolation was provided in the form of three terrific urns or vases of
white metal； containing nothing； each forming a breastwork for a defiant
and apparently much…injured woman。
Established at this Station； Mr。 Thomas Idle and Mr。 Francis
Goodchild resolved to enjoy it。 But； its contrasts were very violent； and
there was also an infection in it。
First； as to its contrasts。 They were only two； but they were Lethargy
and Madness。 The Station was either totally unconscious； or wildly
raving。 By day； in its unconscious state； it looked as if no life could
come to it； … as if it were all rust； dust； and ashes … as if the last train for
ever； had gone without issuing any Return…Tickets … as if the last Engine
had uttered its last shriek and burst。 One awkward shave of the air from
the wooden razor； and everything changed。 Tight office…doors flew open；
panels yielded； books； newspapers； travelling…caps and wrappers broke out
of brick walls； money chinked； conveyances oppressed by nightmares of
luggage came careering into the yard； porters started up from secret places；
ditto the much…injured women； the shining bell； who lived in a little tray
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on stilts by himself； flew into a man's hand and clamoured violently。 The
pointsman aloft in the signal…box made the motions of drawing； with some
difficulty； hogsheads of beer。 Down Train！ More bear！ Up Train！
More beer。 Cross junction Train！ More beer！ Cattle Train！ More
beer。 Goods Train！ Simmering； whistling； trembling； rumbling；
thundering。 Trains on the whole confusion of intersecting rails； crossing
one another； bumping one another； hissing one another； backing to go
forward； tearing into distance to come close。 People frantic。 Exiles
seeking restoration to their native carriages； and banished to remoter
climes。 More beer and more bell。 Then； in a minute； the Station
relapsed into stupor as the stoker of the Cattle Train； the last to depart；
went gliding out of it； wiping the long nose of his oil…can with a dirty
pocket…handkerchief。
By night； in its unconscious state； the Station was not so much as
visible。 Something in the air； like an enterprising chemist's established in
business on one of the boughs of Jack's beanstalk； was all that could be
discerned of it under the stars。 In a moment it would break out； a
constellation of gas。 In another moment； twenty rival chemists； on
twenty rival beanstalks； came into existence。 Then； the Furies would be
seen； waving their lurid torches up and down the confused perspectives of
embankments and arches … would be heard； too； wailing and shrieking。
Then； the Station would be full of palpitating trains； as in the day； with the
heightening difference that they were not so clearly seen as in the day；
whereas the Station walls； starting forward under the gas； like a
hippopotamus's eyes； dazzled the human locomotives with the sauce…bottle；
the cheap music； the bedstead； the distorted range of buildings where the
patent safes are made； the gentleman in the rain with the registered
umbrella； the lady returning from the ball with the registered respirator；
and all their other embellishments。 And now； the human locomotives；
creased as to their countenances and purblind as to their eyes； would
swarm forth in a heap； addressing themselves to the mysterious urns and
the much…injured women； while the iron locomotives； dripping fire and
water； shed their steam about plentifully； making the dull oxen in their
cages； with heads depressed； and foam hanging from their mouths as their
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red looks glanced fearfully at the surrounding terrors； seem as though they
had been drinking at half…frozen waters and were hung with icicles。
Through the same steam would be caught glimpses of their fellow…
travellers； the sheep； getting their white kid faces together； away from the
bars； and stuffing the interstices with trembling wool。 Also； down among
the wheels； of the man with the sledge…hammer； ringing the axles of the
fast night…train； against whom the oxen have a misgiving that he is the
man with the pole…axe who is to come by…and…by； and so the nearest of
them try to get back； and get a purchase for a thrust at him through the
bars。 Suddenly； the bell would ring； the steam would stop with one hiss
and a yell； the chemists on the beanstalks would be busy； the avenging
Furies would bestir themselves； the fast night…train would melt from eye
and ear； the other trains going their ways more slowly would be heard
faintly rattling in the distance like old… fashioned watches running down；
the sauce…bottle and cheap music retired from view； even the bedstead
went to bed； and there was no such visible thing as the Station