The Harmsworth Magazine, v. 1, 1898-1899, No. 2

A bright‑spirited young woman, known by her family as “Tommy,” reluctantly accepts an invitation from a school friend to spend a month at a lavish Highland estate. The story opens on a dreary November day in London, where family pressure and a borrowed silk dress push her onto a train bound for the north. Along the way she meets an intriguing fellow traveler with mismatched hazel‑and‑grey eyes, whose polite conversation and gentle demeanor mask a curious inner world.

As the train rolls past bustling stations and countryside scenery, Tommy’s nervousness gives way to tentative curiosity. Their dialogue drifts from idle chatter about weather to deeper, unspoken topics, hinting at the social codes and personal secrets that will shape their encounter. The prose captures the charm and constraints of Victorian travel, making listeners feel the cramped carriage, the clatter of rail, and the quiet anticipation of a new adventure.