172 The Old Dover Road. 



frocks reduced to a very small company in a short time, 

 when there was an exodus from London to the continent, or 

 vice versa. Then the argus-eyed ostler, whose duty seemed 

 to be to drink with every traveller, and whose notice nothing 

 escaped, would catch sight of a little feather-weight ex- 

 press-boy, on a long-legged, lean old thorougbred, galloping 

 up, and the cry would be heard, " Express boy on ! " and 

 another little feather-weight boy, attired in red jacket, blue 

 waistcoat bound with gold braid, gold band round his hat, a 

 cockade,and diminutive breeches and boots, would bring out 

 anotherlong-leggedjlean old thoroughbred,and would take the 

 despatch-bag, with the simple instructions," Government," 

 '' Rothschilds," or " Press," as the case might be, and start off 

 at a hand gallop, and be as much bespattered with mud in 

 a few minutes as the little jockey who had just delivered his 

 budget of news, having ridden the eleven-mile stage in forty- 

 five minutes, and who had just dismounted and undone the 

 saddle-girths, turning his panting steed, which was in a 

 regular lather, with his head to the wind. 



But landlords and landladies most rejoiced when the 

 courier, swinging himself off the rumble, would run up the 

 steps of the hotel with much importance, with an order for 

 " two sitting-rooms and eight bedrooms for the Duke of 

 Blank's, or Lord and Lady Dash's party." And wasn't the 

 order repeated loud enough ? and didn't all the bells ring ? 

 and didn't we all stare ?— that's all. And didn't the land- 

 lord and landlady come and hand them out, and give them 

 their titles? " Yes, your Grace," and "No, your Grace." 

 There were no pot-hats and ulsters then ; and Her Grace or 

 my Lady Countess wore an enormous big bonnet, with her 

 long curls full of dust, and her noble husband had on an 

 uncomfortable hat, very broad at the top, with shirt-collar 

 up to his eyes, and the collar of his greatcoat — which was 

 made with two buttons in the small of his back — up to his 



