The Merry Past 



bow, and said, " Your ladyship has examined some, 

 but not all of my motions, which are all equally ex- 

 cellent. You have seen me walk, now you shall see 

 me trot." With that, he trotted up and down the 

 room with his utmost force, until the glasses, china, 

 chairs, and everything else danced as if bewitched, 

 and the lady was seized with such a fright as took 

 from her all power of utterance. Then stopping a 

 moment, the hopeful blade repeated, " Now, my 

 lady, you have seen me trot, I'll next show you how 

 I can gallop." This he also performed with his 

 utmost energy ; and running downstairs, bolted 

 fairly out at the hall door. 



The old lady was found by her servants in hysterics, 

 partly from affright, and partly from rage and dis- 

 appointment. Two physicians were called in, and 

 she did not get about for several days ; but the first 

 day she could possibly get out, she spent in driving 

 all over town, to inform her acquaintance with what 

 brutality and insolence she had been treated. 



An advertisement appeared in several public papers, 

 with a reward of fifty pounds for the discovery of the 

 offender. 



In the meantime Lord Lyttleton was convulsed 

 with joy at his success, for which he rewarded the 

 humorous Irishman with a twenty-pound note ; 

 and to clinch the joke, offered the fellow twenty 

 more if he would himself appear to the advertise- 

 ment, and claim the reward, to which his master, 

 who valued him, would not consent. 



Wild freaks of the most reckless and extravagant 



162 



