THE NEW FOREST IN AUGUST. 509 



at the moment that one's inner man happens to suggest lunch 

 or a drink. Added that Abraham positively enjoys being 

 sworn at ; and that he is the father of seventeen children by 

 the register — you know enough of him for all purposes of my 

 little story. 



I didn't see him start that morning, I rejoice to say : for the 

 struggle took place while I was yet sleeping the sleep of the 

 idle. But as he had one horse to lead that was very stubborn, 

 and another to drive that was free, Abraham appears to have 

 begun his journey by being almost torn in two and by as nearly 

 as possible upsetting the whole outfit into a ditch. However, 

 he reached Oxford all right ; and was to be seen there next morn- 

 ing very beaming, very important, and evidently delighted with 

 the idea of throwing off for awhile the responsibilites of an 

 overgrown family, that to my certain knowledge, by the way, he 

 has never seen for years except in the dead of night and on 

 occasional " Sundays off." 



Before leaving the home stables it had been hinted that a 

 " respectable appearance " Avould be required of him during the 

 forthcoming trip ; so he had prepared himself for every occasion 

 — how do you suppose 1 — in lumbering the phaeton a yard high 

 with extra clothing for himself and for his horses ! As he was 

 to be away for at least a week, he had equipped himself with 

 two stiff hats (in bandboxes) besides the billycock he wore as 

 undress and the stable cap he carried in his pocket. And as 

 it was the middle week of August he had elected to guard his 

 horses against the cold by bringing along two thick fawn rugs 

 apiece. Where my modest luggage was to be packed had 

 formed no part of his calculations. Needless to say, a large 

 bundle — the core of which was one of Abraham's hat- 

 boxes — went back forthwith as " Returned clothing. Paid ; " 

 and the phaeton (no — it was only a buckboard, by no means 

 the worst, and certainly one of the lightest, of conveyances for 

 a long country drive) looked a little less like a carrier's cart, 

 and travelled all the easier. 



Under these improved circumstances we moved pleasantly 



