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It was at this identical time that John Marrot resolved to resign his situation as engine-driver on the Grand National Trunk Railway.
In anticipation of this journey, Netta went one evening, in company with Emma Lee, to pay Mrs John Marrot a friendly visit, ostensibly for the purpose of inquiring after the health of baby Marrot, who, having recently fallen down-stairs, swallowed a brass button and eaten an unknown quantity of shoe-blacking, had been somewhat ailing.
When Mrs Tipps discovered that Mrs Marrot and Gertie were going by the same train, she was so much delighted at the unlooked-for companionship that she at once entered the third-class, where they sat, and began to make herself comfortable beside them, but presently recollecting that she had a first-class ticket she started up and insisted on Mrs Marrot and Gertie going first-class along with her, saying that she would pay the difference.
In due time that holiday came to a close, and the excursionists returned to the station where their train awaited them. Among the rest came Mrs Tipps and Mrs Marrot, but they did not arrive together, and therefore, much to their annoyance, failed to get into the same carriage.
Again, a merchant of Birkenhead was paid 20 pounds for playing with his children!" "Dear me, sir!" exclaimed Mrs Marrot in surprise, "surely " "Of course, my good woman," said the elderly gentleman, "you are to understand that he came by some damage while doing so, but I give you the exact words of the pamphlet.
This was a species of insult to the "Flying Dutchman," whose way ought to have been kept perfectly clear, for even a check of speed would inevitably cause the loss of several minutes. With an indignant grumble John Marrot cut off steam, but immediately the signals were lowered and he was allowed to go on. Again, in a few minutes, another signal checked him.
"Well, but," said Mrs Marrot, "it ain't got no blades that I can see." "I'll let 'ee see 'em, Missis, in a minute," said a workman who came up at that moment with a plate of iron more than a quarter of an inch thick. "Turn it on, Johnny."
Several stalwart workmen, with bare brawny arms, who were lounging before the closed mouth of a furnace, regarded the visitors with some amusement. One of these came forward and said "You'd better stand a little way back, ma'am." Mrs Marrot obediently retreated to a safe distance. Then the stalwart men threw open the furnace door.
At last that signal came to John Marrot not in a loud shout of command or a trumpet-blast, but by the silent hand of Time, as indicated on his chronometer.
"Oh no, Mrs Tipps, not by no means," said Marrot, hasting to relieve the timid old lady's feelings, "Mr Joseph is all right nothing wotiver wrong with him nor likely to be, ma'am. Leastwise he wos all right w'en I seed 'im last." "And when might that be?" asked the timid old lady with a sigh of relief as she clasped her hands tightly together.
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