222 A STAGE COACH. 



had recently arrived from that fine colony, and had 

 succeeded in persuading his companion to go out, as 

 Southey says the Devil did, when he visited his 

 " snug Httle farm, the earth/' in order — 



" to see how his stock went on." 



The experienced voyager, the active speculator, 

 was all alive and in excellent spirits, — full of jest, 

 and glee, and gaiety ; to him the trees looked green 

 and the sun shone bright, and not a word could be 

 spoken, nor an incident occur that he did not turn to 

 jest and merriment. Not so his companion : he was 

 grave and pale, and July as it was, wore tight blue 

 worsted pantaloons and Hessian boots. He spoke 

 little, but sighed much, complained of the heat in 

 murmured accents, and for want of other conversation 

 augured rain and thunder ; — he dozed a little, and 

 then needlessly apologised to his companions for 

 what he thought unseemly conduct, by telHng them 

 that he had been married eleven years ; that he had 

 never been apart from his wife and children one 

 whole day since his marriage*; and that he had, at 

 the persuasion of his excellent friend, resolved to 

 undertake a voyage to Africa, upon business, although 

 he had never before been at sea, or even beheld it, 

 except from the Steyne at Brighton, or the Pier at 

 Margate. " I slept little last night," said he, " I am 

 not used to partings, and it has been a sad morning 

 for mcy gentlemen." 



The appeal was uncalled for; but having been 

 made, it was received by the stranger travellers with 

 courtesy and sympathy ; it was met with a horse 

 laugh by his friend, who, being a bachelor, on his 

 return to what he had established as his home in 

 Cape Town, wondered how any man could be so 

 silly as to waste a thought or a sigh upon an affec- 

 tionate spouse and seven children, and a country 

 like England, when he was travelling at the rate of 

 ten miles an hour towards Africa, and the detection 

 of a pilfering partner. 



