Berth- (noun)
Definition: a place to sleep on a ship, train, etc.
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/berth
Found in: “Quicksand” By, Nella Larsen. (P. 377)
Passage: “Her eyes sought the small watch at her wrist. Ten hours to Chicago. Would she be lucky enough to prevail upon the conductor to let her occupy a berth, or would she have to remain here all night, without sleep, without food, without drink and with that disgusting door panel to which her purposely averted eyes were constantly, involuntarily staring?”
By reading this definition I now understand that Helga was contemplating in her head if she’d be lucky enough to win over the conductor to see if he’d just let her relax in the train or she’d be kicked out helplessly.
