Our Odd-men 



him upon his speed in running their errands 

 and told him he was very sprightly. He 

 had evidently felt flattered by the little 

 ladies' praise, for he adopted the sobriquet 

 as if it were a title conferred by a queen, 

 and wore it ever after. Few indeed were 

 there among us who knew he had once 

 answered to the more dignified name of 

 James Humphreys. 



If his name was odd, and his costume 

 more so, his manners were a match for 

 both. With any one of us he was almost 

 invariably willing and obedient. I am sure 

 he thought that we were the most remark- 

 able family in England ; that my Father 

 was by far the largest coach proprietor, his 

 coaches the smartest on the road ; and as 

 to his horses, Sprightly would have liked 

 to know who could compete with them ! 

 not the king himself, sir ! I believe that 

 even my brother and I, despite our teasing 

 ways, which might have exasperated a less 

 kindly soul, were very heroic young gentle- 

 men in the simple fellow's eyes. Woe to 

 that man who would have dared to say any- 

 thing derogatory of us or our belongings in 

 the hearing of Sprightly ! He would have 

 stood as our champion against the world if 

 need had been. 



But he was a different creature to the 

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