Explore "Broad Arrow" by Caroline Leakey on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
A FULL half-hour before the---station opened to the public, a closely- shut vehicle drove to the gate, which immediately unlocked, and as quickly fastened, upon a decently-dressed female, who seemed to conduct rather than accompany three thickly-veiled women that had alighted and entered the platform with her, but their presence was ignored by the G. W. R. officials, and their existence only recognised in the person of her whom, par excellence we designate 'the female.' When she advanced to a carriage, the same secret understanding appeared there as at the entrance. The door instantly and quietly opened. She stood back, and let the veiled three precede her into the compartment, then, seating herself between two and in front of the third, she beckoned to a porter and he locked them in. This being accomplished, she heaved a gentle sigh of satisfaction, and leaning back to repose her exhausted energies, said mildly to the three: 'You may make yourselves as comfortable as you like, now.'
She should have said, and doubtless meant to say: 'You may make yourselves as comfortable as you can, now.'