Hereandthereandaroundthereiseverawildernessofwaggons，someloaded，someempty，somesmokingwithclose-packedoxen，andothersfurlongsinlengthblackwithcoals，whichlookasthoughtheyhadbeenstrandedtherebychance，andwereneverdestinedtogetagainintotherightpathoftraffic。Notaminutepasseswithoutatraingoinghereorthere，somerushingbywithoutnoticingTenwayintheleast，crashingthroughlikeflashesofsubstantiallightning，andothersstopping，disgorgingandtakinguppassengersbythehundreds。Menandwomen，——especiallythemen，forthewomenknowingtheirignorancearegenerallywillingtotrusttothepunditsoftheplace，——lookdoubtful，uneasy，andbewildered。Buttheyalldogetproperlyplacedandunplaced，sothatthespectatoratlastacknowledgesthatoverallthisapparentchaosthereispresidingagreatgeniusoforder。Fromduskymorntodarknight，andindeedalmostthroughoutthenight，theairisloadedwithasuccessionofshrieks。Thetheorygoesthateachseparateshriek，——iftherecanbeanyseparationwherethesoundissonearlycontinuous，——
isaseparatenoticetoseparateearsofthecomingorgoingofaseparatetrain。Thestranger，ashespeculatesonthesepandemoniacnoises，isabletorealizetheideathatweretheydiscontinuedtheexcitementnecessaryforthemindsofthepunditsmightbelowered，andthatactivitymightbelessened，andevilresultsmightfollow。Buthecannotbringhimselftocreditthattheoryofindividualnotices。
AtTenwayJunctionthereareahalf-a-dozenlongplatforms，onwhichmenandwomenandluggagearecrowded。OnoneoftheseforawhileFerdinandLopezwalkedbackwardsandforwardsasthoughwaitingforthecomingofsomeespecialtrain。Thecrowdiseversogreatthatamanmightbesupposedtowalktherefrommorningtonighwithoutexcitingspecialnotice。Butthepunditsareveryclever，andhavemuchexperienceinmenandwomen。Awell-
taughtpundit，whohasexercisedauthorityforayearortwoatsuchastationasthatofTenway，willknowwithinaminuteoftheappearanceofeachstrangerwhatishispurposethere，——
whetherhebegoingorhasjustcome，whetherheishimselfonthewayorwaitingforothers，whetherheshouldbetreatedwithcivilityorwithsomecurtcommand，——sothatifhispurportbehonestallnecessaryassistancemayberenderedhim。AsLopezwaswalkingupanddown，withasmilingfaceandleisurelypace，nowreadinganadvertisementandnowwatchingthecontortionsofsomeamazedpassenger，acertainpunditaskedhimhisbusiness。