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cannot answer for what my fancy might do if I were alone here； or what
tricks my senses might play with me if they had me to themselves。 But；
in company with another man； and especially with Dick； I would consent
to outface all the Ghosts that were ever of in the universe。〃
'〃I had not the vanity to suppose that I was of so much importance to…
night；〃 said the other。
'〃Of so much；〃 rejoined the leader； more seriously than he had spoken
yet； 〃that I would； for the reason I have given； on no account have
undertaken to pass the night here alone。〃
'It was within a few minutes of One。 The head of the younger man
had drooped when he made his last remark； and it drooped lower now。
'〃Keep awake； Dick！〃 said the leader； gaily。 〃The small hours are the
worst。〃
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'He tried； but his head drooped again。
'〃Dick！〃 urged the leader。 〃Keep awake！〃
'〃I can't；〃 he indistinctly muttered。 〃I don't know what strange
influence is stealing over me。 I can't。〃
'His companion looked at him with a sudden horror； and I； in my
different way； felt a new horror also； for； it was on the stroke of One； and I
felt that the second watcher was yielding to me； and that the curse was
upon me that I must send him to sleep。
'〃Get up and walk； Dick！〃 cried the leader。 〃Try！〃
'It was in vain to go behind the slumber's chair and shake him。 One
o'clock sounded； and I was present to the elder man； and he stood
transfixed before me。 'To him alone； I was obliged to relate my story；
without hope of benefit。 To him alone； I was an awful phantom making a
quite useless confession。 I foresee it will ever be the same。 The two
living men together will never come to release me。 When I appear； the
senses of one of the two will be locked in sleep； he will neither see nor
hear me； my communication will ever be made to a solitary listener； and
will ever be unserviceable。 Woe！ Woe！ Woe！'
As the Two old men； with these words； wrung their hands； it shot into
Mr。 Goodchild's mind that he was in the terrible situation of being
virtually alone with the spectre； and that Mr。 Idle's immoveability was
explained by his having been charmed asleep at One o'clock。 In the
terror of this sudden discovery which produced an indescribable dread； he
struggled so hard to get free from the four fiery threads； that he snapped
them； after he had pulled them out to a great width。 Being then out of
bonds； he caught up Mr。 Idle from the sofa and rushed down…stairs with
him。
'What are you about； Francis？' demanded Mr。 Idle。 'My bedroom is
not down here。 What the deuce are you carrying me at all for？ I can
walk with a stick now。 I don't want to be carried。 Put me down。'
Mr。 Goodchild put him down in the old hall； and looked about him
wildly。
'What are you doing？ Idiotically plunging at your own sex； and
rescuing them or perishing in the attempt？' asked Mr。 Idle； in a highly
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petulant state。
'The One old man！' cried Mr。 Goodchild； distractedly； … 'and the Two
old men！'
Mr。 Idle deigned no other reply than 'The One old woman； I think you
mean；' as he began hobbling his way back up the staircase； with the
assistance of its broad balustrade。
'I assure you； Tom；' began Mr。 Goodchild； attending at his side； 'that
since you fell asleep … '
'Come； I like that！' said Thomas Idle； 'I haven't closed an eye！'
With the peculiar sensitiveness on the subject of the disgraceful action
of going to sleep out of bed； which is the lot of all mankind； Mr。 Idle
persisted in this declaration。 The same peculiar sensitiveness impelled
Mr。 Goodchild； on being taxed with the same crime； to repudiate it with
honourable resentment。 The settlement of the question of The One old
man and The Two old men was thus presently complicated； and soon made
quite impracticable。 Mr。 Idle said it was all Bride…cake； and fragments；
newly arranged； of things seen and thought about in the day。 Mr。
Goodchild said how could that be； when he hadn't been asleep； and what
right could Mr。 Idle have to say so； who had been asleep？ Mr。 Idle said
he had never been asleep； and never did go to sleep； and that Mr。
Goodchild； as a general rule； was always asleep。 They consequently
parted for the rest of the night； at their bedroom doors； a little ruffled。 Mr。
Goodchild's last words were； that he had had； in that real and tangible old
sitting…room of that real and tangible old Inn （he supposed Mr。 Idle denied
its existence？）； every sensation and experience； the present record of
which is now within a line or two of completion； and that he would write
it out and print it every word。 Mr。 Idle returned that he might if he liked …
and he did like； and has now done it。
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CHAPTER V
Two of the many passengers by a certain late Sunday evening train； Mr。
Thomas Idle and Mr。 Francis Goodchild； yielded up their tickets at a little
rotten platform （converted into artificial touchwood by smoke and ashes）；
deep in the manufacturing bosom of Yorkshire。 A mysterious bosom it
appeared； upon a damp； dark； Sunday night； dashed through in the train to
the music of the whirling wheels； the panting of the engine； and the part…
singing of hundreds of third…class excursionists； whose vocal efforts
'bobbed arayound' from sacred to profane； from hymns； to our transatlantic
sisters the Yankee Gal and Mairy Anne； in a remarkable way。 There
seemed to have been some large vocal gathering near to every lonely
station on the line。 No town was visible； no village was visible； no light
was visible； but； a multitude got out singing； and a multitude got in
singing； and the second multitude took up the hymns； and adopted our
transatlantic sisters； and sang of their own egregious wickedness； and of
their bobbing arayound； and of how the ship it was ready and the wind it
was fair； and they were bayound for the sea； Mairy Anne； until they in
their turn became a getting… out multitude； and were replaced by another
getting…in multitude； who did the same。 And at every station； the getting…
in multitude； with an artistic reference to the completeness of their chorus；
incessantly cried； as with one voice while scuffling into the carriages； 'We
mun aa' gang toogither！'
The singing and the multitudes had trailed off as the lonely places
were left and the great towns were neared； and the way had lain as silently
as a train's way ever can； over the vague black streets of the great gulfs of
towns； and among their branchless woods of vague black chimneys。
These towns looked； in the cinderous wet； as though they had one and all
been on fire and were just put out … a dreary and quenched panorama；
many miles long。
Thus； Thomas and Francis got to Leeds； of which enterprising and
important commercial centre it may be observed with delicacy； that you
must either like it very much or not at all。 Next day； the first of the Race…
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Week； they took train to Doncaster。
And instantly the character； both of travellers and of luggage； entirely
changed； and no other business than race…business any longer existed on
the face of the earth。 The talk was all of horses and 'John Scott。'
Guards whispered behind their hands to station…mast