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Updated: July 20, 2025
While endeavouring, without much success, to fix his attention on a case of lost-luggage which it was his duty to investigate, and frowning as we have said, at the business-book, his eye was suddenly arrested by the name of "Durby." "Durby!" he muttered. "Surely that name is familiar? Durby! why, yes that's the name of Tipps's old nurse."
Worthy Mrs Durby, we may observe, was fond of quoting the late captain's phraseology. She was an affectionate creature, and liked to recall his memory in this somewhat peculiar fashion.
"Drive to the Clarendon," said Captain Lee, as he and Gurwood followed the nurse into the cab; "we will take care of her," he added to Edwin, "till she is better able to take care of herself." Mrs Durby gave vent to a hysterical sob of gratitude. Arrived at the Clarendon they alighted, the captain paid the fare, and the cab was dismissed. Just at that moment Mrs Durby became a temporary maniac.
Joseph Tipps, having got leave of absence for an evening, was also there, modest amiable, active and self-abnegating. So was Mrs Natly, who, in consideration of her delicate health, was taken great care of, and very much made of, by Mrs Tipps and her family conspicuously by Mrs Durby, who had become very fond of her since the night she nursed her.
When the guard left the late passenger, he found that his assistance was required to get Mrs Durby and her belongings out of the railway carriage and into a cab. The poor nurse was in a pitiable state of mind. A railway journey had always been to her a thing of horror.
It was also fastened with strong cords, but Mrs Durby's powers of making a parcel were so poor that she left several uncouth corners and ragged ends of paper sticking out here and there. She wrote on it in pencil the simple name Durby. Meanwhile Joseph and his friend, having finished luncheon, prepared to set out on their visit to Captain Lee.
The trout have not yet got thoroughly accustomed to the green-drake, and the "Durby day" will not be here for a week. On arriving at the spot at which we intend commencing operations, it is evident that the rise has begun. Happily, everything was in readiness. Our tapered gut cast has been wetted, and a tiny-eyed fly is at the end. The gut nearest the hook is as fine as gut can possibly be.
It was evidently a labour of love! On the day which Mrs Durby had fixed for her journey to London, John and his fireman went to the shed as usual one hour before the time of starting, being required to do so by the "Rules and Regulations" of the company, for the purpose of overhauling the iron horse.
Mrs Durby having packed up the diamond ring in the careful manner which we have described in a previous chapter, essayed to get ready for her important journey to London on pawning purposes intent, but she found that there were so many little preparations to make, both in regard to her own toilette and to the arrangements of Mrs Tipps' establishment, in prospect of its being left without its first mate for a time, that a considerable period elapsed before she got her anchor tripped and herself ready to set sail with the first fair wind.
Reading on, he found that the name of Durby was connected with a diamond ring. "Well, now, that is strange!" he muttered to himself. "At the first glance I thought that this must be the brown paper parcel that I made inquiry about at the station of the Grand National Trunk Railway long ago, but the diamond ring puts that out of the question.
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