The Merry Past 



which coachmasters and their servants were too care- 

 less or too ill-informed to be aware. 



Most of the amateur coachmen were good whips, 

 for which reason the regular stage-coachmen were 

 generally quite agreeable to yielding up the reins to 

 them for any particular stage or stages when they 

 might have a fancy to drive. 



In consequence of this queer mistakes were often 

 made by passengers who were unaware that the reins 

 had been assumed by some sprig of nobility. 



A certain nobleman, very fond of the road, had 

 been on a visit to the Marquis of Bath, and was taking 

 a lark one night on one of the Bath coaches. When 

 they arrived at Marlborough his lordship thought he 

 couldfnot do less than perform the honours of the 

 supper-table, and a lady being of the party he was 

 particularly civil in paying her compliments. " Will 

 you allow me to send you some beef ?" said our 

 noble friend. iVo answer I " Permit me, madam, to 

 help you to some beef," repeated his lordship. No 

 answer I Once more, and a little louder, " Shall I 

 send you any beef ? " " / never speak to outside 

 passengers / " said the lady, with a contemptuous 

 toss of her head. Upon this the rebuffed carver rang 

 the bell, and told the waiter to send the landlord into 

 the room, when the following conversation took 

 place, to the great dismay of the fastidious lady : 



" Landlord," said the peer, " order me a little supper 

 at another table, as I find I am unworthy of a seat at 

 this ! " 



" God bless me, my lord ! fancy your lordship 



128 



