8 Four-in-Hand in Britain. 



prevents. Why, just think of it — one caiit talk tJiere ! 

 Yet this woman could once play with feeling and sing 

 with expression, delighting her young companions. Of 

 her one could truly say, 



" ' Oh ! to see or hear her singing ! scarce I know which is divinest — 

 For her looks sing too — she modulates her gestures on the tune ; 

 And her mouth stirs with the song, like song ; and when the 



notes are finest, 

 'Tis the eyes that shoot out vocal light, and seem to swell them 

 on.' 



And now she has fallen to this ! " 



*' Has she children ? " inquires the Good Spirit. 



** No," says Fate, " we are not altogether relentless. 

 How could we give such a woman children and look 

 you in the face ? It is sometimes thought necessary 

 even to go as far as this, but in such cases we commend 

 the poor infants to the special care of the great Father, 

 for mother they have none. But look ! there is a man 

 now who did so pray for a son and heir that we gave 

 him one, and yonder goes the result. God in heaven ! 

 why are men so rash in their blindness as to pray for 

 anything ! Surely * Thy will be done ' were best. 



I am as bad as Sterne in his ''Sentimental Jour- 

 ney," and will never get on at this rate. I started to 

 argue that the Fates were too kind instead of not kind 

 enough ; at least, my air-castles have ever been mere 

 toys compared with the realities, for never did I dream, 

 in my wildest days, that the intended drive through 



