“Perhaps coffee,” I replied when Sarah insisted that I accompany them to a nearby restaurant that served passengers.
I had not brought anything to eat with me, as it would have drawn attention from Cook at Sussex Square that I was leaving. And in spite of several more hours’ travel before reaching Edinburgh, I decided that I would rather save the money than spend it on a meal.
“You must join us,” Sarah’s mother insisted. “The food is quite good. And you should have more than coffee.”
Her father insisted as well.
“You must join us,” Sarah added.
We arrived in York just after midday and departed the train at the station with other passengers.
The restaurant nearby, obviously aware of the rail schedule, provided a quick meal of sandwiches and soup. Sarah’s father paid for their meal as well as mine.
When I would have objected, he explained, “Sarah becomes quite bored on these long trips. It is a pleasure to have you join us. I insist that you be our guest.”
With luncheon over, the other guests began to return to the train, and we followed them.
We returned to the compartment, several hours’ travel still looming ahead of us. I was inclined to agree with Sarah that it could all be quite boring. We had no sooner returned to our seats than she pulled out a box that looked very much like a book.
She opened it, then laid it between us on the long seat across from her parents.
“It was a gift for my birthday,” she announced as she opened the ‘pages,’ which were in fact cardboard lids over two compartments that contained black and white wood disks. The ‘cover’ of the book opened to reveal a game board.
“Will you play?” she asked me. “Father refuses. He says that I’m too clever for him.”
After Professor Gilmartin paid for my lunch and with some distance yet to go before reaching Edinburgh, it seemed the perfect way to pass the time. I nodded.
“White or black?” she asked as she retrieved the disks and began to separate them.
A young girl should have the white disks, I thought, and chose the black. With the board set up, we began.
“When is your birthday?” Sarah asked as she took one of my black wood coins, then began a systematic attack, obviously determined to collect as many of mine as possible.
I had no way of knowing when I was born. It had been the topic of more than one conversation after I first arrived in London.
“Nonsense!” Lady Antonia declared.“Everyone has a birthday. Often more than one, depending on whom you speak with.”She insisted that I share her birthday.
“It is the 25thof April,” I replied.
She looked up from the board only briefly as she took another of my black disks.
“Mine is the 12thof April! We could be sisters.”
We were not, of course, but she was obviously delighted at the possibility.
Clever indeed, I thought, as she manoeuvred to take three more of my disks. It was fascinating to see the concentration on her face.
There were other stops through the afternoon—Darlington, Newcastle, then just before the border into Scotland. I hardly noticed as I concentrated on my moves...as well as hers. And then finally Dunbar, just before reaching Edinburgh.I had been soundly defeated over three games. I looked up to find Professor Gilmartin watching me with some amusement as he tamped the ash from his pipe, then put it away as the attendant announced that Waverly Station at Edinburgh was the next stop.
It was not long before the train began to slow. The checkers were tucked away in the box, and my travel companions prepared to depart.
There was a slight jolt, and the train was pulling in under that iron and glass domed roof of Waverly Station.
The professor assisted his wife with her coat, then retrieved his hat and coat as Sarah tucked the game board into her suitcase.
He leaned slightly toward me. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I replied.
