THE DOVER ROAD 



277 



who still takes a sort of paternal interest in those revivals 

 of the coaching age which delight our millionaires 

 during the prevalence of what we are pleased to call our 

 summer months, lives in a snug house of his own, sur- 

 rounded by memories of his former triumphs. A 

 duchess might envy the Chippendale furniture in his 

 drawing-room, and the bow window commands an 



^i^ -^^,: 





, »>•" .A* 



The Chequers, Tonbridge. 



extensive view of a rambling block of buildings which in 

 days gone by housed the treasures of a choice stud. 



As I listened to this man, it seemed to me that I 

 came into direct personal contact with the very genius 

 of coaching days and coaching ways — felt the impulse 

 which throbbed in the brains of our ancestors to be at 

 the coaching office early to book the box seat : sat by 

 the side of a consummate master of his craft ; was initiated 



