296 



COACHING DAYS AND COACHING WAYS 



not refuse the contest. Far from it. He chancred seats 

 with Mr. Hcnnesy, *' took them a bit," and all went 

 well between Hatfield and Welwyn. Arrived at this 

 place (where the coach changed horses) Tom Hennes}- 

 remarked that he had better take them down the hill. 

 And why did he think it necessary to depose his young 

 protege at the very apex of his triumph 1 Because he 

 had the fear of a ** three-cornered old chap named 

 Barker " before his eyes. " Who would kick up a devil 



tv >/■ 



^f^'^^^r 







: "'11 



The Roebuck, Knehivorih. 



of a row if he saw' you working ! " Thus spoke Tom 

 Hennesy, with great disrespect to the proprietor of the 

 White Hart at Welwyn who horsed the coach. Thus 

 he spoke and prepared to take the reins from the un- 

 willing hands of the unwilling neophyte when lo ! he 

 looked ahead and saw the very " three-cornered old chap" 

 spoken of advancing up the hill to meet them. The 

 situation was now summed up in three words, " Here's a 

 go ! " At the same time Mr. Hennesy disdained to 

 attempt disguise at a time when disgui.se was useless, 



