The railway station at the Crystal Palace was soon reached, and the Dodo went boldly up to the booking-office and demanded some tickets for London.

The Ticket-clerk, who could only see the top of the Dodo's head, very naturally mistook him for an old gentleman without his hat, and inquired, politely, "What cla.s.s, Sir?"

This was a puzzler, and the Dodo went back to d.i.c.k and told him that the gentleman in the office wanted to know what cla.s.s they were in.

"What does he mean?" asked d.i.c.k.

"What cla.s.s you're in at school, I suppose," said the Dodo, doubtfully.

"Why, I'm in the fourth form," said d.i.c.k; "but I don't see what he wants to know _that_ for, unless--Oh yes, of course, I see--he wants to find out how old we are, because up to twelve years of age you can travel half-price, you know. Let's see--we only want halves, Marjorie and Fidge and myself; you'll have to get a whole ticket, I suppose, though I have seen a notice at a railway station somewhere, on which it stated, 'Soldiers and Dogs half-price.' Perhaps it applies to birds, too. You had better ask, I think."

So the Dodo went back to the booking-office again and inquired, "Do birds travel half-price?"

"Birds!" exclaimed the Booking-clerk. "Nonsense! There is no charge for birds, unless you have a quant.i.ty," he added, as an afterthought. "How many have you?"

"Oh, there's only one," said the Dodo.

"Take it in the carriage with you, no charge," said the Clerk.

"Thanks! It's awfully kind of you," said the Dodo. "I'll take three half-tickets for London, then, please."

"First cla.s.s?" inquired the Clerk.

"No! Fourth form, please," said the Dodo.

"You mean fourth _cla.s.s_, I suppose," said the Clerk, laughing; "but there _is_ no fourth cla.s.s, you know. First, second, or third."

"Oh! then I'll have third; I suppose that's the best?" cried the Dodo.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "You can't take that into the carriage with you."]

"No," explained the Clerk, "first cla.s.s is best."

"What a funny arrangement," said the Dodo. "I should have thought the third would have been an improvement on the first; but, however, let's have the first-cla.s.s tickets, please. When does the train start?"

"There's one due in directly," said the Clerk. "Down the steps on the right."

And the Dodo, collecting his change, and grasping his tickets, marched off towards the barrier.

The Clerk, whose curiosity was aroused by the strange questions which had been addressed to him, came to the window to have a better view of his interrogator, and was just in time to catch sight of the Dodo walking off with the three children.

"Well, I never!" he exclaimed, perfectly astounded at this strange sight. "And he asked if birds traveled at half-price, too! Well, I've had some odd customers here at the Crystal Palace, but never a one like that before." And he went back to his work in a highly-bewildered frame of mind.

Meanwhile the Dodo and the children, finding no one at the barrier to obstruct them, went down to the platform, and a moment later the train came dashing into the station.

"First cla.s.s in the middle of the train," shouted d.i.c.k, grasping Fidge's hand, and hurrying down the platform.

"Here! where are you going to with that bird?" shouted a voice behind them, and d.i.c.k and the Dodo turned around and walked slowly back to where the Guard, an elderly and very important-looking man, stood regarding them sternly.

"Oh, it's all right; the gentleman up-stairs said there was no charge for birds," explained the Dodo, importantly, thinking that the man was inquiring about his ticket.

"H'm! sort of a big parrot, I suppose, Sir?" said the Guard, addressing d.i.c.k, and not taking the slightest notice of the Dodo's remark.

"Parrot, indeed!" shouted the bird, indignantly. "Perhaps you haven't noticed my gloves and necktie?"

The Guard smiled indulgently. "Talks well, Sir," he said to d.i.c.k, "but you can't take _that_ into the carriage with you, you know. Better put him in the van."

[Ill.u.s.tration: All crowded around, anxious to catch a glimpse.]

"How dare you?" said the Dodo. "You'll do nothing of the sort, I can tell you." And despite the protests of the Guard he strutted up the platform and entered a first-cla.s.s carriage, followed by the children.

There was no further time for argument, as the train was even now late in starting; so the Guard blew his whistle and waved his flag, and, after an answering toot from the engine, they were off.

They had the carriage all to themselves, and a moment or two after starting Marjorie discovered that somebody had left a little ill.u.s.trated Magazine on one of the seats.

They all crowded round to look at the pictures, and presently the Dodo exclaimed, excitedly--

"Hullo! Look here! Why, here's a situation that would just suit me:--'Typewriter wanted; must be quick and accurate, and of undoubted respectability. Hours, nine till six. Liberal salary to suitable person.--Apply to A. B. C., Suffolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand.' It's the very thing! With the liberal salary, I shall be able to take a house somewhere in London, and we can all live together, and have the jolliest larks. We'll keep a horse and trap, you know, and I'll buy you each a bicycle, and we'll go to the Pantomime every evening, and to Madame Tussaud's, and the Zoo, and the Tower of London, and Masklyne and Cook's, and other things every day--and--and----" he went on breathlessly.

"But do you know how to do typewriting?" asked d.i.c.k, dubiously.

"Well--er, not exactly," admitted the Dodo; "but," he added, hopefully, "I can soon learn, you know; and, besides, the advertis.e.m.e.nt fits me exactly. I'm sure I'm quick and accurate; and as for my respectability, look at my gloves! I'm sure any one would engage me directly they saw what a superior person I was."

"How much do you think the salary will be?" asked Marjorie.

"Oh, I don't know. I suppose they'll be glad to pay me anything I like to ask," replied the Dodo, "and I shall be sure to ask enough, you may be certain of that."

"But how are we to get to Norfolk Street, Strand?" persisted Marjorie.

"We don't know where it is."

"Father said, that if we were ever lost, we were to jump into a cab, and ask to be driven to wherever we wanted to go," suggested d.i.c.k, practically.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Kept the cabby highly amused."]

"Of course," said the Dodo, "just what I intended doing." And then he rattled on about what he should do, and buy, when he got the situation, till at last the train stopped, and the Porter shouted out, "Victoria!"

They all hurried out, and, disregarding the curious glances which their unusual appearance excited, made their way to the nearest hansom, and asked to be driven to Norfolk Street.

There was some little difficulty at first, as to how they should all find room in the cab, but it was finally decided that the Dodo should sit on the top, while the three children managed to find room inside.

The Dodo, from his elevated position, had a capital view of everything of interest which they pa.s.sed, and kept the cabby highly amused by his exceedingly nave remarks about them all; while, to every exclamation of surprise or derision, which met them on every side from astounded street boys, the remarkable bird had something droll and amusing to say in reply. In fact, the driver declares to this day, that he never before or since has had so extraordinary a fare.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE DODO OBLIGES WITH A SONG.