When they were at their
worst, the lightning looked like the upset of a cauldron of white
glowing metal--with such strength, breadth, and volume did it
descend. Just as the train arrived, the roar began to abate, and in
about half-an-hour it had passed over to the north, leaving behind
the rain, cold and continuous, which fell all round us from a dark,
heavy, grey sky. The carnage in which we were was a third-class,
with seats arranged parallel to the sides. It was crowded, and we
were obliged to sit in the middle, exposed to the draught which the
tobacco smoke made necessary. Some of the company were noisy, and
before we got to Red Hill became noisier, as the brandy-flasks which
had been well filled at Hastings began to work. Many were drenched,
and this was an excuse for much of the drinking; although for that
matter, any excuse or none is generally sufficient. At Red Hill we
were stopped by other trains, and before we came to Croydon we were
an hour late. We had now become intolerably weary. The songs were
disgusting, and some of the women who were with the men had also been
drinking, and behaved in a manner which it was not pleasant that
Ellen and Marie should see. The carriage was lighted fortunately by
one dim lamp only which hung in the middle, and I succeeded at last
in getting seats at the further end, where there was a knot of more
decent persons who had huddled up there away from the others.
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