The Coachmaster 



perty of my Father's friend. After much 

 brushing up and cleaning down the coach 

 was ready to start, and my Father, making 

 such excuse and explanation to the pas- 

 sengers as involved no blame on his em- 

 ployers, rattled away from the "Old Bell" 

 with his unsightly and ill-matched four, 



only half an hour behind the usual time. 

 Old Rudd was much gratified by his per- 

 severance in a good cause, and when he 

 went up to town the next day, Mr. Watty 

 probably recognising, after a good night's 

 sleep, that my Father had helped to save 

 the good name of the firm, said very ab- 

 ruptly, 



"You were quite right to do what you 

 did, Hyde, last night, quite right," and then 

 changed the subject. 



39 



