"How silly of the conductor to put it for me." "How could the poor man tell who was to occupy the berth! You might have been a fat old lady for anything he knew!" replied Mrs.Beverley, settling herself on the mattress below.
It was a funny sensation to lie in bed in the jolting train, and Irene slept only in snatches, waking frequently to hear clanking of chains, shrieking of engines, shouting of officials at stations, and other disturbing noises.

As dawn came creeping through the darkness she drew the curtain aside and looked from the window.

What a glorious sight met her astonished gaze! They were passing over the Alps, and all around were immense snow-covered mountains, great gorges full of dark fir forests, and rushing streams of green glacier water.

It was very cold, and she was glad to pull her rug up, and later to drink the hot coffee which the _conducteur_ made on a spirit-lamp in the corridor and brought to those who had ordered it overnight.
Irene never forgot that long journey on the Continental express.

The sleeping compartments became sitting-rooms by day, for the berths turned into sofas, and a table was unfolded, where it would have been possible to write or sew if she had wished.