You have no idea of the
efforts we are making to keep up with the rest of the world. We have
a wicked Radical newspaper all to ourselves; I wonder it has the face
to call itself the Abbeychurch Reporter.'
'Your inns are on the move,' said Anne; 'I see that little beer-shop
near the Station calls itself "The Locomotive Hotel."'
'I wish it were really locomotive,' said Elizabeth, 'so that it would
travel out of Abbeychurch; it is ruining half the young men here.'
'Well, perhaps the new town will mend,' said Anne; 'it will have a
Christian name to-morrow, and perhaps the influence of the old town
will improve it.'
'I think Papa has little hope of that kind,' said Elizabeth; 'if the
new town does grow a little better, the old will still grow worse.
It is grievous to see how much less conformable Papa finds the people
of the old town, than even I can remember them. But come, we must be
locomotive, or Dora will not be at home in time.'
CHAPTER IV.
The clock was striking eight as the young ladies entered the house;
but Dora was allowed to sit up a little longer to see her aunt, Mrs.
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