360 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF 



posed to bolt, and obviously required a strong wrist to 

 rein him in. Carlyle was no longer young : paralysis 

 agitans had enfeebled his right hand for some time 

 my anxiety was great. But after sundry imprecations 

 and strenuous backward pulls, the horse was at length 

 clearly mastered by its rider, and we fleetly sped 

 along. Through lanes, over fields, along high-roads, 

 past turnpike gates where I paid the toll. This con- 

 tinued for at least five hours, at the end of which we 

 returned, and handed the bespattered horses over to the 

 groom. The roads and lanes had been abominable, mud 

 to the fetlocks, not to speak of the slimy fields. Had 

 the groom's feelings been allowed open vent, we should 

 have had imprecations on his part also. We heard 

 only a surface murmur, but the storm, I doubt not, dis- 

 charged itself behind our backs in the stable. Carlyle 

 went to his room, donned his slippers and his re- 

 spectable grey dressing-gown. Carrying with him 

 one of the long ' churchwardens ' which he always 

 obtained from Glasgow, he stuffed it full of tobacco. 

 Choosing a position on the carpet by the hall fire 

 which enabled him to send the products of combustion 

 up the chimney, to the obvious astonishment of the 

 passing servants he began to smoke. Having with me 

 at the time a flask of choice pale brandy, of this, mixed 

 with soda-water, I gave him a stiff tumbler. The ride 

 had healthily tired him, and he looked the picture of 

 content. At six o'clock his simple dinner was set 

 before him, and he was warned against discussion. It 

 was the traditional warning of the war-horse to be 

 quiet when he hears the bugle sound. In the evening 

 discussion began with one of the guests, and I could 

 see that Carlyle was ready to dash into it as im- 

 petuously as he had done the night before. I laid my 

 hand upon his arm and said sternly, ' We must have 



