And I will.'
The conductor looked puzzled, and was thoughtful a moment; then he burst
out with:
'I seem to be getting myself into a scrape! It's all a muddle; I can't
make head or tail of it; it never happened before; they always knocked
under and never said a word, and so I never saw how ridiculous that
stupid order with no penalty is. I don't want to report anybody, and I
don't want to be reported--why, it might do me no end of harm! No do go
on with the game--play the whole day if you want to--and don't let's have
any more trouble about it!'
'No, I only sat down here to establish this gentleman's rights--he can
have his place now. But before won't you tell me what you think the
company made this rule for? Can you imagine an excuse for it? I mean a
rational one--an excuse that is not on its face silly, and the invention
of an idiot?'
'Why, surely I can. The reason it was made is plain enough. It is to
save the feelings of the other passengers--the religious ones among them,
I mean. They would not like it to have the Sabbath desecrated by
card-playing on the train.
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