When their train came along Aunt Cyrilla established herself in one seat and her basket in another , and looked beamingly around her at her fellow travellers . These were few in number -- a delicate little woman at the end of the car , with a baby and four other children , a young girl across the aisle with a pale , pretty face , a sunburned lad three seats ahead in a khaki uniform , a very handsome , imposing old lady in a sealskin coat ahead of him , and a thin young man with spectacles opposite . `` A minister , '' reflected Aunt Cyrilla , beginning to classify , `` who takes better care of other folks ' souls than of his own body ; and that woman in the sealskin is discontented and cross at something -- got up too early to catch the train , maybe ; and that young chap must be one of the boys not long out of the hospital . That woman 's children look as if they had n't enjoyed a square meal since they were born ; and if that girl across from me has a mother , I 'd like to know what the woman means , letting her daughter go from home in this weather in clothes like that . '' Lucy Rose merely wondered uncomfortably what the others thought of Aunt Cyrilla 's basket . They expected to reach Pembroke that night , but as the day wore on the storm grew worse . Twice the train had to stop while the train hands dug it out . The third time it could not go on . It was dusk when the conductor came through the train , replying brusquely to the questions of the anxious passengers . `` A nice lookout for Christmas -- no , impossible to go on or back -- track blocked for miles -- what 's that , madam ? -- no , no station near -- woods for miles . We 're here for the night . These storms of late have played the mischief with everything . '' `` Oh , dear , '' groaned Lucy Rose . Aunt Cyrilla looked at her basket complacently . `` At any rate , we wo n't starve , '' she said . The pale , pretty girl seemed indifferent . The sealskin lady looked crosser than ever . The khaki boy said , `` Just my luck , '' and two of the children began to cry . Aunt Cyrilla took some apples and striped candy sticks from her basket and carried them to them .
She lifted the oldest into her ample lap and soon had them all XXXXX her , laughing and contented .
At across around as for of on than through to