The Coachmaster 



his knee, and gently patting it and nodding 

 his head at her. She smiled and nodded 

 in return ; and I laughed too, with the 

 tears in my eyes. 



Not many months after my return to 

 London, I received a sudden summons 

 from Mary, saying that Father was very 

 ill and begging me to come at once. It 

 came late one evening, and though I went 

 out at once in anxious haste, both the last 

 train and the last coach had gone. Then 

 I made my way to the Elephant and Castle 

 in the hope of finding some carrier's cart 

 that would be making the journey to 

 Brighton. I shall never forget the kind- 

 ness shown me there and all along the 

 road for my Father's sake. 



'* I am old Mr. Hyde's son," I said, 

 ''and he is very ill: can you help me to 

 get down to Brighton ? " They did help 

 me, and with all possible speed packed me 

 off in a carrier's cart. 



'' Please sir," said an ostler, a poor dis- 

 reputable-looking creature, just before I got 

 into the cart, "take my love to Mr. Hyde 

 and say as I hope he will soon be well 

 again. Don't forget now, say Jimmy 

 Hunt sends his love, will you ? " Another 

 fellow said, '' I can't bear to think as he's 

 ill and sufferin' ; there never wern't such a 

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