22 COACHING DAYS AND COACHING WAYS 



miles from London, and the end of Stacy's journey. 

 They liad then however seventeen miles to go on to 

 Marlborough, the extra passenger's destination, and he 

 got out without any expression of regret either on the 

 part of himself or his fellow passengers at the parting." 



Here is a picture of a fearful possibility in a coach. 

 Degenerate travellers of to-day, we know what glances 

 of flame are exchanged, even in an hour's journey, 

 between the ten occupants of a first-class special and the 

 accursed eleventh who projects himself into their midst 

 at the very moment when the train is moving from the 

 platform. But here was an agony prolonged for seventy- 

 four miles, and suffered in a sinister silence. Why that 

 silence when experience would lead one to expect 

 curses } I should much like to know the secret 

 history of that ride. How did the fifth passenger so 

 impress his presence on his victims that they said no 

 word when the coachman asked them whether they 

 would like some coffee ? Did he administer some 

 narcotic on entering the coach, or — those were fighting 

 days — was it by knocking them " out of time " that he 

 " sent them to sleep ? " 



The issue is lapped in mystery ; but much of the 

 Bath Road lies beyond Colnbrook, where I have been 

 pausing, and it is time to get along it. The fast coaches 

 out of London soon covered the twenty-two miles to 

 Reading, and there is no need for me to dawdle by the 

 way. The purely coaching record is a blank. There 

 was however a fine inn at Slough, where there is now a 

 draughty railway station ; and at Salt Hill, six furlongs 

 on, the Windmill was noted for its dinners. Here was 

 also one of those unlimited establishments for the supply 

 of posting horses, to be found years ago on all the great 

 thoroughfares out of London. After crossincf over 

 Maidenhead Bridge the road enters Berkshire, and 

 immediatel)' afterwards the town of Maidenhead itself. 

 An industrious curate, once resident in the town, has 

 filled a large volume with its history ; but there is 



