"And how
comes it that young people like you are travelling around without your
parents? Not running away, are you?"
"Oh, no, madam!" replied Lancy, keeping a straight face by a great effort.
"We were on our way to Charlottetown, but the train was delayed by an
accident, so we thought we would stay over in Truro and wait for the next
boat."
"Didn't get hurt by the accident, did you? for this ain't no hospital, no
way; only a plain boarding house for respectable people."
"We are not hurt in the least, madam, but we are very tired, and hope you
will allow us to stay here for a day or two," Lancy hastened to explain,
for her many objections began to alarm him.
"You come from Halifax, do you? Bad place that. Thieves and robbers thrive
there, I'm told. How long have you lived there?"
This was addressed to Dexie, but she dared not open her mouth to answer
lest she should laugh outright; and Elsie, fearing she might make some
unfortunate speech that would send them to the right-about, hastened to
reply: "For some years, ma'am; we used to live in England before we moved
to Halifax."
"Oh! English, are you? I was afraid you were Irish.
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